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THE 


SCOTCH -IRISH   MCELROYS 


IN   AMERICA 


A.  D.    1717 — A.   D.    1900 


By  Rev.  John  M.  McElroy,  D.D. 


Fort  Orajjgb  Press 

BRANDOW  PRINTING  COMPANY,  ALBANY,  N.  Y. 

1901 


CONTENTS 


Name  McElroy,  its  origin  and  significance 

The    Scotch    Covenanters,    their    sufferings,    exi 

migration  to  America    . 
Bucks  County  McElroys 
Kentucky  McElroys 
Big  Spring  McElroys 
Rich  Hill  McElroys 
Albany  McElroys 
Lancaster  County  McElroys 
Delaware  State  McElroys 
Braddock  McElroys 
Ligonier  McElroys 
Descendants  of  Adam 
Meadeville  McElroys 
Virginia  McElroys 
Monroeville  McElroys 
Beaver  County  McElroys 
Robert  McElroy  of  Philadelphia 
A   Pittsburgh  Family 
Hon.  John  Scott,  late  U.  S.  Senator, 
Sligo   McElroys 
Delaware  (Ohio)  McElroys 
John  McElroy  of  Washington  City 
North  Carolina  McElroys 
George  McElroy,  a  patriarch 
New  Brunswick  McElroys 
McElroy  Pennings  and  Personals 
Notes      ..... 
Index     ..... 


le   and 


Philadelphia 


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LIST   OF   ILLUSTRATIONS 

Charles  Cooper  McElroy 

Alice  McElroy  Wright 

Hon.  Warren  Scott  Dungan 

William  T.  Knott,  Ph.D. 

Hon.  J,  Proctor  Knott 

William  Montgomery  McElroy 

Charles  M.  McElroy 

Rev.  Joseph  McElroy,  D.D. 

Mrs.  Marianne  Fox  McElroy 

Mr.  James  Moir 

Mrs.  Mary  McElroy  Moir 

Thomas  G.  McElroy  (Ohio) 

James  F.  McElroy 

John  M.  McElroy,  D.D. 

Abby  McElroy  | 

Mary  McElroy  j 

David  W.  McElroy 

James  McElroy  (Washington 

Joseph  McElroy,  M.D. 

Capt.  James  McElroy  . 

Thomas  McElroy  (Albany) 

William  McElroy  (Albany) 

William    H.  McElroy,  LL.D 

William  W.  H.  McElroy 

Rev.  James  C.  McElroy 

Rev.  W.  N.  McElroy,  D.D. 

John  McElroy  (Son  of  Adam  McElroy) 

Robert  Fulton  McElroy 

Rev.  George  B.  McElroy,  D.D.      . 

John  H.  McElroy 


Co.,  Pa.) 


opposite 


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SOME    HELPFUL    CORRESPONDENTS 


John  McElroy,  Leitrim,  Ireland 
Richard  McElroy,  Kate's  Bridge, 

Ireland 
Mrs.  Alice  McElroy  Wright, 

California 
Hon.  Warren  Scott  Dungan,  Iowa 
Dr.  W.  T.  Knott,  Kentucky,  deceased 
Mrs.  Ellen  McElroy  Ridout,  Annapolis 
Col.  John  S.  McElroy,  North  Carolina 
Thomas  A.  McElroy,  South  Carolina 
James  Dickson  McElroy,  South 

Carolina 
J.  M.  Knott,  Kentucky 
Rev.  Wm.  Dickson,  D.D.,  Ohio 
David  W.  McElroy,  Iowa 
Joseph  K.  McElroy,  Iowa 
Mrs.  Mary  McElroy  Moir,  New  York 
Rev.  Wm.  Wilmerding  Moir,  New 

York 
Mrs.  Martha  McElroy  Rider,  Iowa 
A.  A.  Cassil,  Chicago 
Prof.  E.  B.  McElroy,  Eugene,  Oregon 
J.  B.  Graham,  Mt,  Vernon,  Ohio 
Miss  Serena  Gladden,  Denver,  Colo. 
R.  H.  Cotton,  Wellsburg,  W.  Va. 
Capt.  James  McElroy,  Chicago 


Joseph  McElroy,  M.D.,  Hickory,  Pa. 
Joseph  M.  McElroy.  Oil  City 
Samuel  McElroy,  C.  E. ,  Brooklyn 
S.  M.  Shaw,  Cooperstown,  N.  Y. 
Rev.  Irving  McElroy,  New  York  City 
Wm.  W.  H.  McElroy,  Huntingdon, 

Pa. 
Clayton  McElroy,  Philadelphia 
Rev.  Jas.  C.  McElroy,  Kansas 
Frank  McElroy,  Cleveland,  Ohio 
Rev.  W.  N.  McElroy,  D.D.,  Illinois 
Capt.  J.  C. McElroy, Washington, D.C. 
John  McElroy,  Washington,  D.  C. 
William  F.  McElroy,  Pennsylvania 
John  J.  McElroy,  M.D.,  Illinois 
Mrs.  Isabella  McElroy  Patton, 

Rochester 
Hon.  John  Scott,  Philadelphia 
John  H.  McElroy,  Pittsburgh 
Judge  Chas.  H.  McElroy,  Ohio 
Milo  G.  McElroy,  Delaware,  Ohio 
John  E.  McElroy,  Albany 
David  McElroy,  North  Carolina 
Rev.  Solomon  C.  McElroy,  New  York 
James  G.  McElroy,  Eldora,  Iowa 
Hon.  Frank  McElroy,  Michigan 


PREFACE 

In  the  Ohio  home  of  my  boyhood,  I  hstened  with  interest  to 
accounts  of  Our  People  who  hved  beyond  the  mountains  on 
the  Blue  Juniata,  and  also  to  Tales  of  Ancestors  in  County  Down 
and  in  Scotland.  As  I  grew  toward  manhood,  I  found  it  easy 
to  lay  up  in  memory  or  in  written  memoranda  anything  that 
came  to  me  in  that  line,  and  with  continued  interest  and  appre- 
ciation. 

About  ten  years  since,  correspondence  was  opened  with  Dr. 
W.  T.  Knott  of  Lebanon,  Ky.,  who  wrote  that  he  was  giving 
some  attention  to  preparing  a  McElroy  History,  and  that  he 
would  be  pleased  if  I  could  furnish  him  a  sketch  of  my  own 
Tribe,  and  any  other  information  that  I  might  be  able  to  secure. 
During  a  few  years  following,  records,  more  or  less  full,  of  about 
twenty  tribes  were  procured  and  forwarded. 

Dr.  Knott  was  hindered,  by  protracted  sickness  in  his  family, 
from  completing  the  history,  until,  at  length,  his  own  final  illness 
closed  his  earthly  work. 

After  his  death,  which  occurred  in  February,  1899,  his  son, 
Mr.  J.  M.  Knott,  returned  to  me  the  material  that  had  been  for- 
warded, together  with  his  father's  unfinished  manuscript,  with 
liberty  to  use  it  as  I  might  see  fit.  It  seemed  to  me  that  the 
accumulated  genealogical  data  of  the  numerous  McElroy  fami- 
lies ought  not  to  be  lost;  and  to  secure  its  preservation,  in 
permanent  and  accessible  shape,  the  preparation  of  this  work  was 
entered  upon.  The  result  is  embodied  in  this  account  of  "The 
Scotch-Irish  McElroys." 


It  is  not  the  genealogy  of  a  single  family,  but  sketches,  more 
or  less  full,  of  some  twenty-four  families,  whose  common  head 
is  veiled  from  view  amid  the  hills  and  heather,  the  mists  and  the 
traditions  of  Scotland. 

In  arranging  for  the  publication  of  this  book  the  author  has 
had  valuable  assistance  from  James  F.  McElroy  of  Albany,  who 
also  carried  the  work  through  the  press. 

The  illustrations,  which  many  will  look  upon  with  great  inter- 
est and  pleasure,  are  the  work  of  the  Albany  Engraving 
Company. 

THE   AUTHOR. 
Ottumwa,  IowAj, 

January  J,  igoi. 


ORIGIN    OF   THE    NAME    McELROY 

The  name  AIcElroy  has  been  in  use  for  many  centuries.  In 
O'Hart's  Irish  Pedigrees  it  can  be  traced  back  a  thousand 
years,  or  probably  even  to  the  times  of  St.  Patrick.  One  of  the 
proofs  that  it  is  a  very  old  name  is  found  in  the  fact  that  it 
belongs  to  both  Ireland  and  Scotland  and  is  common  to  both 
Catholics  and  Protestants.  The  Irish  people  are  Celts,  and  also 
probably  one-half  of  the  Scotch,  specially  those  of  Western 
Scotland.  The  Irish  language  and  the  Gaelic  of  the  Scotch  High- 
lands are  substantially  the  same.  The  Emerald  Isle  was  called, 
in  the  times  of  the  Picts  and  Scots,  Scotia,  or  the  land  of  the 
Scots.  In  the  ninth  century  these  Scots  from  south  of  the 
Irish  Sea,  moved  in  vast  hordes  upon  the  North  land  overcoming 
the  Southern  Picts  and  contending  with  the  Northern  Picts  for 
supremacy  with  the  ultimate  result  that  .  the  country  became 
Scott-land,  with  a  race  of  Scottish  kings  on  the  throne.  With  this 
division  of  the  original  Scots  there  seems  to  have  been  a  division 
of  the  McElroys.  A  part  of  them  were  doubtless  among  these 
invaders  of  Scotland.  They  remained  there  for  centuries  and  in 
the  Reformation  times  became  Protestants,  and  at  length  per- 
secuted exiles,  coming  back  and  settling  in  North  Ireland. 

Others  of  the  McElroys  remained  in  Ireland  and  their  descend- 
ants are  the  Catholic  McElroys  of  South  Ireland  of  to-day.  Of 
late  many  Catholic  McElroys  are  found  in  America.  In  Phila- 
delphia and  Pittsburgh  there  are  more  Catholic  McElroys  than 
Protestants. 

The  Form  and  Significance  of  the  Name  McElroy. 

Its  most  ancient  form,  given  in  O'Hart's  Pedigrees,  is  Gil- 
lereagh.  In  a  late  Scottish  work  of  some  research  by  Frank 
Adam,  Edinburgh,  1896,  it  is  claimed  that  McElroy  is  derived 
from,  or  was  originally  McGillivray. 


10  Scotch-Irish    M c  Elroys 

The  impression  has  prevailed  pretty  extensively  among  those 
bearing  the  name  that  McElroy  means  Son-of-a-king.  However 
flattering  to  our  pride  v^^e  think  this  definition  cannot  be  sustained. 
Roy,  the  only  part  of  the  name  that  suggests  kingship,  is  not 
Latin,  nor  is  it  French.  The  whole  name  is  Gaelic  or  Celtic,  and 
Roy  in  the  Celtic  language  does  not  mean  king. 

Mac  or  Mc  means  son.  A  thorough  investigation  will  show 
that  El  or  II  preceded  by  Mac  is  but  an  abbreviated  form  of 
MacGill.  The  word  Gill  or  Gilli  means  servant,  disciple,  out- 
door attendant.  Its  least  favorable  equivalent  is  Gilly,  as  used 
by  Sir  Walter  Scott  and  others.  It  was  often  used  in  a  religious 
sense:  Gilchrist,  servant  of  Christ;  Gilpatrick,  servant  of  St. 
Patrick;    Gillibrede,  servant  of  St.  Bridget. 

The  syllable  or  syllables  following  Gill  or  Gilli  describe  the 
kind  of  servant,  or  set  forth  something  in  his  personal  appear- 
ance or  character. 

According  to  O'Hart  reagh  means  gray-haired,  and  McGil- 
lereagh  means  "son  of  the  gray-haired  servant."  The  name 
changed  in  form  as  generations  passed,  becoming  McGilre, 
McGillroy,  McKilroy,  Mcllroy,  McCulroy,  McHilroy  and 
McElroy.  It  will  be  noticed  that  all  these  differing  forms  when 
pronounced  rapidly,  with  the  accent  on  the  last  syllable,  are  the 
same  to  the  ear. 

The  form  Mcllroy  is  widely  used  at  the  present  time  among 
those  who  bear  the  name  in  Ireland  and  Scotland. 

There  are  those  who  claim  that  "roy"  in  our  name  means  red 
and  that  Mac-El-roy  means  son  of  the  red  servant. 

If  the  Scottish  derivation  from  McGillivray  be  accepted,  what 
would  the  name  mean?  I  took  the  liberty  of  referring  the  ques- 
tion to  Professor  Robinson  of  Harvard  University,  one  of  the  few 
scholars  in  our  country  who  are  versed  in  the  Celtic  language  and 
literature. 

In  reply  he  says  :  "1  think  it  unlikely  that  the  name  (McElroy) 
should  be  the  same  as  McGillivray  *  *  *  *_  This  name  in 
Gaelic  is  McGillebhrath,  and  means  "Son  of  the  servant  of 
judgment." 


Origin    of    the    Name  n 

We  seem  to  have  three  definitions  to  choose  from:  "Son  of  the 
gray-haired  servant,"  "Son  of  the  red  servant"  and  "Son  of 
the  servant  of  judgment."  The  first  of  these  seems  to  the  writer 
to  have  the  strongest  support. 

It  seems  plain  that  the  McElroys  must  give  up  their  kingly 
claims.  We  are  servants.  But  the  honor  or  dishonor  in  the  case 
depends  altogether  on  who  is  our  master. 

Their  Location  in  Scotland. 

The  locality  in  Scotland  from  which  the  McElroys  came  to 
North  Ireland  is  not  certainly  known.  Dr.  W.  T.  Knott  is  of  the 
opinion  that  they  lived  in  the  counties  of  Argyle  and  Lanark. 
There  are  traditions,  referred  to  elsewhere,  that  they  came  from 
the  region  of  Glasgow,  which  is  in  the  County  of  Lanark. 

The  McElroys  were  not  Highlanders  in  the  strict  sense  of  the 
term.  They  were  of  Celtic  origin,  and  their  ancestors  had  no 
doubt  been  identified  with  the  Gaelic  Highlanders.  They  never 
constituted  a  distinct  clan,  but  were  connected  with  the  McGil- 
vrays,  if  not  identical  with  them,  and  even  the  McGilvrays  were 
not  a  clan,  but  only  a  sept  or  dependency  of  the  Clan  McGilli- 
vray,  and  entitled  to  wear  their  Tartan. 

There  was,  as  generations  and  centuries  passed,  a  considerable 
intermingling  of  Gaels  with  the  Lowlanders.  Glasgow  was  not 
remote  from  the  border  and  so  it  came  to  pass  that  our  fore- 
fathers had  become  in  the  times  of  John  Knox  dwellers  in  the 
Lowlands  and  subject  to  those  religious  influences  which  trans- 
formed them  into  Bible  Christians  and  Covenanters. 

The  Highlanders  in  the  mountains  had  scarcely  felt  the  influ- 
ence of  Presbyterianism,  or  of  the  Reformation,  and  knew  almost 
nothing  of  the  Bible.  They  were  illiterate  and  fierce  and  brave 
Six  thousand  of  them  responded  to  the  call  of  the  authorities 
and  descended  upon  the  Lowlands  to  assist  in  exterminating  the 
Covenanters.  The  persecutions  ceased  with  the  Revolution  of 
1688.  Untold  miseries  in  one  form  or  another  had  come  upon 
the  people  of  Scotland.  Violent  death,  imprisonment,  banish- 
ment, not  to  speak  of  impoverishment,  had  been  the  lot  of  many 


12  Scotch-Irish    Mc  Elroys 

thousands.  It  was  estimated  that  nine  thousand  persons  had  fled 
the  country — a  majority  of  them  to  North  Ireland. 

There  had  been  more  or  less  of  migration  to  Ireland  in  earlier 
times.  The  Scottish  regiments  sent  south  at  the  time  of  the  Irish 
Rebellion  in  1641  probably  contained  some  McElroy  soldiers. 
And  in  the  Plantation  of  Ulster  under  Cromwell  at  least  one  of 
that  name  is  enrolled  among  the  new  settlers.  O'Hart  refers  to  a 
Mcllroy  among  Cromwell's  colonists  who  settled  in  County 
Down  and  there  acquired  considerable  wealth. 

This  brings  us  to  the  traditionary  accounts  in  the  following 
pages  of  our  forefathers  coming  from  Scotland  "time  o'  the  per- 
secutions" and  settling  in  different  parts  of  Ulster,  specially  in 
County  Derry  and  County  Down. 

The  Emigration   from   Ulster  to  America. 

Less  than  forty  years  after  the  Revolution  of  1688,  when  the 
persecutions  in  Scotland  ceased,  the  Scotch  dwellers  in  North 
Ireland  began  to  migrate  to  America.  There  were  reasons  for 
the  movement.  The  Scotch  colonists  and  refugees  had  been  a 
great  blessing  to  Ulster.  They  had  brought  with  them  industry 
and  thrift  which  resulted  in  material  prosperity.  Land  increased 
in  productiveness  and  value,  and  better  dwellings  were  erected. 
Landlordism  greedily  appropriated  the  gain  and  raised  rents  to 
the  highest  notch,  and  the  people  became  grievously  discontented. 

Another  cause  for  the  large  migration  from  Ireland-  was  the 
repressive  measures  adopted  by  the  English  government  toward 
commerce  and  agriculture.  At  first  these  industries  were  fos- 
tered, and  the  encouragement  given,  particularly  to  the  culture 
of  flax,  so  increased  the  linen  trade  that  there  was  danger  of  Ire- 
land controlling  the  market.  Then  there  was  a  change  of  policy, 
and  by  indirect  yet  effectual  means  Ireland's  trade  was  hindered 
and  repressed  and  that  of  England  promoted.  A  similar  course 
in  regard  to  agriculture  placed  Ireland's  products  under  embargo, 
that  English  farmers  might  not  suffer  by  the  competition. 

A  third  cause  and  a  potent  one  was  religious  intolerance. 
These  Scotch  people  in  Ireland  were  attached  earnestly  and  per- 


Origin    of    the    Name  13 

haps  obstinately  to  the  doctrines  and  order  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  They  were  treated  however  by  the  government  and  by 
the  authorities  of  the  established  church  as  dissenters  and  dan- 
gerous to  the  state.  Marriages  solemnized  by  their  ministers 
were  declared  invalid  and  the  legitimacy  of  the  children  of  such 
marriages  was  called  in  question.  And  all  Presbyterians  were 
excluded  from  civil  and  military  offices  of  every  kind. 

It  is  not  strange  that  our  Scotch  forefathers,  almost  en  masse, 
rose  up  and  set  their  faces  toward  America.  The  historian 
Froude  tells  us  that  "during  the  first  half  of  the  eighteenth  cen- 
tury, Down,  Antrim,  Tyrone,  Armagh  and  Derry  were  emptied 
of  Protestant  inhabitants  who  were  of  more  value  to  Ireland 
than  California  gold-mines."  These  emigrants  entered  our  coun- 
try mainly  at  the  ports  of  Boston,  Philadelphia  and  Charleston. 

Dr.  Robert  Baird  in  his  "History  of  Religion  in  America"  states 
that  "from  1729  to  1750  about  twelve  thousand  annually  came 
from  Ulster  to  America." 


Charles  Cooper  McElroy 


THE    BUCKS    COUNTY    (PA.)    McELROYS 

William,  of  Nokamixon  Township 

The  earliest  migration  of  McElroys  from  North  Ireland  to 
America  occurred,  according  to  our  information,  about  the  year 
A.  D.  1 71 7.  A  large  family  came  in  that  year  to  Philadelphia 
and  settled  a  few  miles  north  of  that  city  on  the  Delaware  in 
Bucks  County.  We  do  not  know  the  Christian  name  of  the  head 
of  the  family,  nor  precisely  where  in  North  Ireland  they  had 
lived.  It  is  probable  that  they  came  from  the  southern  part  of 
County  Down.  They  were  Scotch-Irish  Presbyterians,  but  in 
later  years  a  number  of  them  became  identified  with  the  Episcopal 
Church. 

From  "Pennsylvania  Archives,"  Vol.  II,  third  series,  p.  y^, 
we  learn  that  William  McElroy  obtained  warrant  for  certain 
lands  in  Nokamixon  Township,  Bucks  County,  on  the  ninth  day 
of  August,  1749. 

The  will  of  William  McElroy,  on  record  at  Doylestown,  was 
probated  October  31,  1765.  His  wife  was  Jean.  His  three 
daughters,  all  married,  were  Agnes  Scott,  Sarah  Jones  and  Jean 
Jones.  He  had  two  sons,  Alexander  and  George,  who  were  only 
eight  to  ten  years  old  when  their  father  died.  At  the  opening 
of  the  Revolutionary  war  these  two  young  men  were  connected 
with  a  military  company  in  Nokamixon  Township,  but  being 
under  age,  were  registered  as  "associators." 

Agnes  Scott  became  the  mother  of  seven  children,  the  first  of 
these,  William,  named  for  her  father,  was  born  September  8,  1747, 
Her  sixth  child,  Alexander,  was  born  in  1761,  and  one  younger 
probably  in  1763.  From  these  records  I  infer  that  Agnes  was 
married  in  1746,  and  that  her  birth  was  about  1720,  and  that  her 
father,  William  McElroy,  was  born  in  Ireland  prior  to  1700,  and 
that  he  may  have  been  25  to  30  years  of  age  when  his  father  came 
to  Bucks  County  in  171 7. 


l6  Scotch-Irish    M c  Elroys 

Col.  Archibald,  of  Bristol. 

From  "Pennsylvania  Archives,"  Vol.  XIV,  p.  204,  we  learn 
that  Archibald  McElroy  was  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the  Fourth 
Battalion,  Bucks  County  militia,  commissioned  May  10,  1780. 
His  will,  on  record  at  Doylestown,  was  probated  March  31,  1806, 
his  death  having  occurred  February  14,  1806.  His  wufe  was 
Sarah.  His  children  were  John,  Sarah,  Archibald,  Schuyler,  and 
a  daughter  Ann,  who  married  Little.  His  residence,  Bristol 
Borough.  Archibald  and  Schuyler  are  supposed  to  have  migrated 
northward,  settling  at  or  near  Rome,  N.  Y.,  but  of  their 
history  or  descendants  we  have  no  knowledge.  The  daughter, 
Sarah,  a  beautiful  and  popular  young  woman,  was  the  occasion 
of  a  fatal  duel — in  1798 — between  two  army  officers.  In  the 
burial  ground  of  St.  James'  Church,  Bristol,  a  stone  marks  the 
grave  of  Capt.  John  Sharp,  of  the  Tenth  United  States  Infantry, 
the  challenger,  and  near  by  is  the  grave  of  Sarah,  who  died 
unmarried. 

The  oldest  son,  John,  married  a  Miss  Goodman  of  Philadelphia. 
His  second  marriage  occurred  January  11,  1798,  to  Ann  Cooper, 
a  wealthy  Virginia  widow,  a  half  sister  of  Commodore  Richard 
Dale,  of  the  United  States  navy.  They  lived  for  some  years  on  the 
old  homestead  three  miles  below  Bristol,  the  present  site  of  "The 
Mary  Drexel  Home,"  in  the  northern  suburbs  of  Philadelphia. 
The  descendants  of  John  McElroy  are  numerous  and  widely  scat- 
tered. Some  of  them  are  in  business  in  Philadelphia,  but  the 
major  part  of  them  reside  in  the  town  of  Beverly,  N.  J.,  just 
across  the  Delaware  from  Bristol.  The  wife  of  Col.  Archibald 
McElroy,  according  to  tradition,  was  Sarah  McClelland,  and  her 
cousin  is  said  to  have  been  the  wife  of  General  Heister  Clymer. 
The  maiden  name  of  the  Colonel's  mother  in  Ireland  is  said  to 
have  been  Susanna  Young. 

What  relationship  existed  between  William  of  Nokamixon 
Township  and  Archibald  of  Bristol  borough — both  of  Bucks 
County  ?  Were  they  brothers  ?  Probably  not.  Possibly  the  latter 
was  a  nephew  of  the  former.     There  was  also  a  David  McElroy 


Bucks  County   (Pa.)   McElroys  17 

who,  according  to  the  register  of  Christ  Church,  Philadelphia, 
was  married  March  20,  1801,  to  Eliza  Anderson.  An  examina- 
tion of  deeds  and  court  records  at  Doylestown  would  probably 
throw  light  upon  the  above  questions  and  also  give  us  the  Chris- 
tian name  of  the  original  head  of  the  Bucks  County  McElroys. 

John  McElroy  and  his  wife  Ann  Cooper  were  the  parents  of 
eighteen  children,  including  three  sets  of  twins.  Only  nine  of 
them  reached  adult  age  and  all  of  them  have  passed  away.  Two 
or  more  grandsons  bearing  the  McElroy  name  are  in  Beverly, 
N.  J.,  two  or  more  are  in  business  in  Philadelphia,  and  one,  John 
McElroy,  resides  at  Black  Hills,  S.  D. 

Agnes  Scott. 

A  granddaughter,  Mrs.  Alice  McElroy  Wright,  of  California, 
a  sister  to  John,  of  South  Dakota,  has  brought  me  under  obliga- 
tions by  her  intelligent  and  full  letters  relating  to  family  history 
and  traditions.  She  and  husband  and  entire  family  of  Bucks 
County  McElroys  are  highly  connected,  and  have  a  just  pride  in 
their  family  history  from  Colonial  times.  They  are  connected 
by  blood  or  marriage  with  the  Coopers  of  the  south  and  with 
Fenimore  Cooper,  the  novelist ;  with  the  Cutlers  of  New  Eng- 
land, and  with  the  Penns  of  Pennsylvania.  She  was  born  at 
Beverly,  N.  J.,  but  has  resided  for  ten  years  past  in  California,  is 
a  great-granddaughter  of  Col.  i\rchibald  McElroy.  Her  grand- 
father, John  McElroy,  who  married  a  sister  of  Commodore 
Richard  Dale,  was  a  man  of  wealth  and  influence  and  a  member 
of  the  State  Legislature,  residing  on  his  estate  in  what  is  now 
known  as  Eddington-on-the-Delaware.  Her  father,  Charles 
Cooper  McElroy,  was  educated  for  the  Episcopal  ministry,  but 
was  hindered  by  failure  of  health  from  taking  orders.  At  the 
time  of  her  marriage  to  Mr.  Wright,  she  was  the  widow  of  the 
distinguished  civil  engineer  Andrew  Ellison.  Jr. 

Gustavus  W.  T.  Wright  was  the  eldest  son  of  the  late  Robert 
Clinton  Wright  of  Baltimore,  and  grandson  of  Governor  and 
United  States  Senator  Robert  M.  Wright  of  Maryland.  Born  in 
Rio  Janeiro,  Brazil,  and  brought  up  in  Baltimore,  he  returned. 


i8  Scotch-Irish    Mc  Elroys 

in  his  early  manhood,  to  the  former  city,  where,  as  coffee  merchant 
and  banker,  he  spent  twenty-three  years.  In  1880  he  returned  to 
the  United  States,  residing  of  late  years  in  California. 

Hon.  Warren  Scott  Dungan  traces  his  ancestry  back  to  Rev. 
Thomas  Dungan,  a  native  of  England,  who  settled  in  Bucks 
County,  A.  D.  1682,  and  who  was  the  first  Baptist  minister  in 
Pennsylvania ;  to  Robert  Scott  of  Edinburgh,  a  member  of  the 
Scottish  Parliament,  whose  son  John  came  to  Bucks  County  about 
1720,  and  to  William  McElroy,  whose  daughter  Agnes  married 
John  Scott,  Jr.,  in  Bucks  County. 

W.    S.    Dungan/    Isabella    McFarren*    (Dungan),    Mary 

ScoTT^  (McFarren),  Agnes  McElroy-  (Scott), 

William  McElroy^. 

Mr.  Dungan  was  born  in  Beaver  County,  Pa.,  in  1822. 
Attended  the  academy  at  Frankford  Springs.  Was  a  teacher  in 
Pennsylvania,  Virginia  and  the  remote  south.  Became  a  lawyer. 
Settled  in  Iowa,  at  Chariton,  1856,  where  he  continues  to  reside. 
Was  five  times  elected  to  the  Iowa  Legislature — three  times  as 
senator  and  twice  as  member  of  the  house,  and  in  1893  was  chosen 
Lieutenant-Governor.  Was  a  soldier  in  the  Thirty-fourth  Iowa 
Infantry;  enlisting  as  a  private,  elected  captain,  and  returning 
after  three  years'  service  as  lieutenant-colonel  of  his  regiment. 

Governor  Dungan  married,  in  1859,  Miss  Abby  Kingman 
Procter,  of  Massachusetts,  who  died  in  1882.  Five  daughters 
are  living;  a  son  and  a  daughter  are  deceased.  A  member  and 
ruling  elder  in  the  Cljariton  Presbyterian  Church,  and  a  com- 
missioner, three  times,  in  the  General  Assembly  from  Des  Moines 
Presbytery.  He  is  now  President  of  the  Scotch-Irish  Society  of 
Iowa. 

Agnes  McElroy  Scott. 

Of  the  family  of  William  McElroy  the  only  one  whose  history 
or  descendants  are  known  to  us  is  Agnes,  who  married  John 
Scott.  The  father  of  John  Scott  came  from  Edinburgh  about 
1725  and  settled  on  the  Neshaminy,  becoming  a  member  of  the 


j^.Irs.  Alice  McElroy-Wright 


Bucks  County   (Pa.)   Mc  Elroys  19 

Neshaminy  Presbyterian  Church,  of  which  Rev.  William  Tennant 
was  pastor.  His  three  sons,  Moses,  Matthew  and  John,  were 
officers  in  General  Washington's  army,  the  first  a  surgeon,  the 
second  captain  and  the  third  commissary.  Captain  Matthew 
Scott  is  honored  as  the  ancestor  of  Mrs.  Lucy  Webb  Hayes, 
wife  of  ex-President  R.  B.  Hayes. 

John  Scott  and  his  wife,  Agnes,  resided  in  Northampton 
County,  Pa.,  some  miles  north  of  Easton,  and  just  across 
the  Delaware  from  Belvidere,  N.  J.  They  had  seven  chil- 
dren, the  first  born  in  1747,  and  the  last  in  1763.  Their  fourth 
child,  Mary  or  Polly,  married  (1784)  William  McFarren.  The 
late  Rev.  Samuel  McFarren,  D.  D.,  of  Congruity,  Pa.,  was  their 
grandson.  Another  grandson,  Hon.  Warren  Scott  Dungan,  of 
Chariton,  is  widely  and  well  known  as  a  lawyer,  Presbyterian 
elder  and  late  Lieutenant-Governor  of  Iowa. 

The  fifth  child  of  John  and  Agnes  Scott  was  Rev.  George 
McElroy  Scott,  a  pioneer  Presbyterian  minister,  who  lived  and 
labored  many  years  in  Western  Pennsylvania  and  who  also  did 
missionary  work  in  Ohio.  Governor  Dungan  has  vivid  recollec- 
tions of  this  venerable  uncle  and  relates  some  interesting  reminis- 
cences. One  of  these  is  worthy  to  be  put  upon  record.  During 
one  of  his  trips  through  the  Ohio  wilderness  he  spent  a  night  at  a 
settler's  cabin,  where  he  noticed  a  fine  mastiff.  He  paid  little 
attention  to  him,  did  not  fondle  or  try  to  make  friends  with  him, 
for  he  was  not  an  admirer  of  dogs.  Resuming  his  lone  horseback 
journey  next  morning  he  noticed  the  dog  following  him.  He  tried 
to  drive  the  animal  back,  but  without  success.  After  some  hours' 
travel,  when  passing  through  the  dense  woods,  a  highwayman 
sprang  to  his  bridle-bit  and,  seizing  it,  demanded  his  money.  Then 
the  dog  appeared  on  the  scene  and  took  right  hold,  biting  and 
shaking  the  villain  until  he  was  glad  to  get  away  with  his  wounds 
and  his  life.  Soon  after  this  the  dog  turned  homeward  and  could 
not  be  coaxed  to  go  further.  This  the  minister  regarded  as  a 
"Special  Providence." 

John  W.  Scott,  D.  D.,  son  of  the  foregoing,  was  born  in  Beaver 
County,  Pennsylvania,  in  1800,  and  died  in  Washington,  D.  C, 


20  Scotch-Irish    M c  Elroys 

in  1892.  He  graduated  at  Washington  College  in  1823,  and  from 
Yale  College  a  year  later,  and  then  for  fifty  years  was  among  the 
most  prominent  and  successful  educators  in  the  country.  He  was 
ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Oxford  in  1830.  His  wife  was 
Mary  P.,  daughter  of  John  Neal.  He  held  a  professorship  in 
Washington  College,  Pennsylvania,  four  years ;  in  Miami  Uni- 
versity seventeen  years,  and  in  Farmer's  College,  Ohio,  four  years. 
He  was  president  of  Oxford  Female  College  ten  years,  and  was 
also  on  duty  for  a  time  in  Hanover  College,  Indiana,  and  in 
Monongahela  College. 

Dr.  Scott's  daughter,  Carrie,  married  Benjamin  Harrison,  who 
became  President  of  the  United  States.  Her  venerable  father 
had  his  home  with  her  during  his  declining  years.  There,  amid 
those  unique  surroundings  where  Death  has  seldom  made  his 
appearance,  father  and  daughter  both  met  the  last  summons  and 
passed  from  earth. 


t^ 


Hon.  Warren  Scott  Dungan 


THE    KENTUCKY    McELROYS 


About  the  year  A.  D.  1729,  James  McElroy,  with  his  young  wife, 
Sarah  McCune  (or  McCue,  or  McHugh)  left  County  Down,  Ire- 
land, for  America  on  the  ship  "George  and  Ann,"  sailing  from 
Belfast.  A  number  of  other  immigrants  accompanied  them,  in- 
cluding McCunes,  McDowells,  McCampbells,  McKees,  and  the 
[Rev.  John  Irvine  and  wife.  They  landed  at  Philadelphia,  and 
stopped  for  a  time  in  Bucks  County.  It  is  probable  that  the 
McElroys  already  in  Bucks  County  were  kindred  and  friends, 
and  they  would  naturally  turn  aside  to  visit  them  and  get  desired 
information.  Possibly  they  may  have  remained  there  several 
years. 

Thence  they  went  west  to  Cumberland  County,  toward  which 
the  current  of  Scotch-Irish  immigration  was  about  that  time 
flowing  very  strongly.  There,  on  the  extreme  frontier,  amid 
privations  and  perils,  they  lived  some  twenty-five  years.  The 
Indians  were  numerous  and  troublesome,  and  becoming  more 
and  more  hostile.  A  daughter  of  Rev.  John  Irvine,  Nancy,  some 
fifteen  years  of  age,  was  captured  by  the  savages  but  subsequently 
rescued  by  a  party  of  kinsmen  and  neighbors.  The  French  and 
Indian  war  was  looming  up  in  the  distance,  precluding  the  further 
advance  of  migration  westward,  and  as  the  emigrant  ships  con- 
tinued to  arrive  at  Philadelphia,  the  flow  of  immigrant  travel  was 
deflected  southward  from  Cumberland  and  FranMin  counties 
into  and  through  the  great  valley  of  Virginia  toward  the  south. 
Thousands  of  home  hunters  about  the  year  1760  and  later  took 
this  route,  as  Providentially  ordered,  and  found  homes  in  South- 
ern Virginia  and  the  Carolinas.  Such  was  the  lot  of  the  families 
of  James  McElroy  and  Rev.  John  Irvine.  They  found  home  and 
residence  in  Campbell  County.  Southern  Virginia.  It  is  probable 
that  the  two  older  sons  of  James  McElroy  married  in  Pennsyl- 


22  Scotch-Irish    Mc  Elroys 

vania.  During  the  stormy  years  of  the  Revolution  these  famiUes 
resided  in  Campbell  County,  and  there  the  parents  are  supposed 
to  have  reached  the  end  of  life's  journey. 

Some  years  after  the  war  closed  the  three  younger  sons 
removed  with  their  families  to  the  extreme  frontier  in  Kentucky. 
They  and  their  numerous  descendants  have  given  name  to  the 
entire  tribe  of  which  James  McElroy  was  the  head,  "The  Ken- 
tucky McElroys." 

Children  of  James^'  and  Sarah  McElroy. 

I.     John^  b.  Ireland  or  Pennsylvania,  m.  


2.  Archibald^  b.  Pennsylvania,    m.  ist .    2d  Thomp- 

son.    Died  October  7,  1770. 

3.  Hugh^  b.  Pennsylvania,     m.  Esther  Irvine,  Virginia. 

4.  Samuel-  m.  Mary  Irvine,  Virginia. 

5.  James^  m.  Margaret  Irvine,  Virginia. 

The  five  sons  and  their  father  were  participants  in  the  French 
and  Indian  and  Revolutionary  wars.  Archibald-  was  killed  in  the 
battle  of  Kings  Mountain.  SamueP  was  present  as  a  soldier  at 
the  surrender  of  Cornwallis.  The  two  older  brothers  may  have 
married  in  Pennsylvania.  The  family  removed  to  Campbell 
County,  South  Virginia,  about  1760.  The  three  younger  sons 
married,  in  Virginia,  three  sisters,  daughters  of  Rev.  John  Irvine. 
We  have  no  positive  information  as  to  the  wife  of  John.-  He  is 
said  to  have  removed  from  Virginia  to  South  Carolina.  His 
descendants  are  probably  in  the  Carolinas,  Georgia,  Tennessee 
and  other  Southern  states.  The  three  younger  brothers  removed 
to  Kentucky,  1787-89,  settling  in  what  is  now  Marion  County, 
at  Lebanon  and  also  at  Springfield. 

Archibald^  McElroy  (James^)  b.  Pennsylvania,  1730-1740. 
Date  and  place  of  marriage  not  known.  His  second  wife,  a 
widow,  her  name  (whether  maiden  or  widow  name  not  known) 
was  Thompson.  Each  wife  was  the  mother  of  several  children. 
Was  a  Revolutionary  soldier,  killed  in  the  battle  of  Kings  Moun- 
tain, 7  October,  1770.     Resided  near  Kings  Mountain. 


Kentucky  McElroys  23 

Children  of  Archibald.^ 
John.^ 
William.^ 
James.* 

A  daughter,  Ruth,  who  married  Bowen  or  Bowman,  lived 
at  Spartansburg,  S.  C. 
Archibald*    b.    6    September,  1779.      m.  1799,  Martha    Craig. 

John*  McElroy  (Archibald,^  James^)  was  a  Revolutionary 
soldier  under  General  Green  and  was  killed  at  Guilford  C.  H., 
March  15,  1781.  Resided  near  Danville,  Va.  His  widow,  with 
their  one  child,  a  son,  removed  to  Pickens  District,  S.  C,  where 
she  m.  Howard.    Her  son, 

John*  McElroy  (John,*  Archibald, -  James^')  m.  and  resided 
in  Yancey  County,  N.  C. 

Children  of  John*  McElroy   (John,*  Archibald,^  James^) 
John  Wesley.^ 
James^  who  married  and  removed  from  North  Carolina  to 

Boone  County,  Ark. 
And  a  number  of  daughters,  names  unknown. 

John  Wesley^  (John,*  John,*  Archibald,-  James^')  of  Yancey 
County,  N.  C,  was  a  prominent  citizen  and  known  as  Gen.  Wes- 
ley McElroy.    He  died  soon  after  the  close  of  the  Civil  war. 

Children  of  Gen.  John  Wesley^  McElroy. 

A  daughter  who  m.  R.  B.  Vance,  member  of  Congress  six- 
teen years. 
Three  other  daughters — names  not  known. 

John  S.°  b.  1835.    m. 

James. ^ 

Nicholas.^ 

Robert.^ 


24  Scotch-Irish    M c  Elroys 

Col.  John  S.*^  McElroy  (John  Wesley,^  John,*  John,^  Archi- 
bald,^ James^)  of  Ivy,  Madison  County,  N.  C,  was  a  Confederate 
soldier,  Colonel  of  the  Sixteenth  North  Carolina  Infantry.  Is  a 
lawyer.  Has  a  son  who  is  a  lawyer  at  Marshall,  N.  C,  and  three 
daughters,  all  married  except  one. 

Recurring  to  the  children  of  Archibald-  McElroy.  His  son, 
William,^  is  said  to  have  settled  in  Tennessee. 

John'^  settled  in  Southern  Kentucky. 

The  daughter,  Mrs.  Bowen  or  Bowman,  lived  at  Spartans- 
burg,  S.  C,  and  had  several  children. 

Archibald^  (Archibald,-  James^)  of  Pendleton  District,  S.  C, 
a  prominent  citizen.  Mt.  Zion  Presbyterian  Church  was  built  on 
his  land,  and  of  it  he  was  a  member  and  elder  and  liberal  sup- 
porter. A  man  of  intelligence  and  high  personal  character.  He 
was  b.  in  a  fort  in  Union  District,  S.  C,  September  6,  1779,  and 
was  a  babe  of  thirteen  months  when  his  father  died  at  Kings 
Mountain.  The  widow  moved  to  Pendleton  District,  S.  C,  where 
the  son  grew  up.  He  m.  at  the  age  of  twenty,  in  1799,  Martha 
Craig,  aged  sixteen,  daughter  of  Rev.  William  Craig,  a  Presby- 
terian minister.     Died  185 1. 

Children  of  Archibald  and  Martha. 

1.  Wm.  Craig*  b.  9  August,   1809.     m.  Harriet  Simpson. 

d.  24  May,  1837. 

2.  James  McDonald*  m.  Susan  Craig. 

3.  Susan  Elvira*  m.  Clayton  Webb. 

4.  Eliza  Jane*  m.  Stephen  McCully. 

5.  Margaret*  m.  William  Steele. 

6.  Archibald*  m.  Rebecca  Bellotte. 

7.  Samuel  Rayford*  m.  Montgomery  M.  Dickson. 

8.  Martha*  m.  Thomas  M.  Wilkes. 

William  Craig*  McElroy  (Archibald,^  Archibald,^  James^) 
b.  Union  District,  S.  C,  9  August,  1804,  graduated  from  the 
University  of  Georgia  and  from  Princeton  Theological  Seminary. 


Kentucky  McElroys  25 

m.  Harriet  Simpson,  daughter  of  Judge  Simpson,  of  Princeton, 
N.  J.,  and  became  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  Danville, 
Va.  Was  a  very  popular  and  promising  minister.  Died  May 
24,  1837. 

Children  of  William  C.  and  Harriet  McElroy. 

Ellen^  b.  1835.     m.  Dr.  William  Ridout. 
Mary  Augusta  d.  in  infancy. 

James  McDonald*  McElroy  (Archibald,^  Archibald,*  James^) 
m.  Susan  Craig,  of  Laurens,  S.  C.  He  was  a  physician,  an  elder 
in  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Pickens,  and  member  of  the  Legis- 
lature. 

Children  of  James  M.  and  Susan  McElroy, 


Eliza  Jane.^ 
Thomas  Archibald.^ 
Martha  Elizabeth.^ 
Mary  Evaline.^ 
Samuel  James.^ 
Marg-aret  Emma.^ 


Susan  Elvira*   (McElroy)   Webb    (Archibald,^  Archibald,^ 
James^)  m.  Clayton  Webb.    They  moved  to  Georgia. 

Children  of  Susan  E.  (McElroy)  and  Clayton  Webb. 


I. 

William.^ 

2. 

Catharine.^ 

3- 

James^  Webb,  M.  D. 

4- 

Annie.^ 

5- 

Charles^  Archibald,  M.  D 

6. 

Robert.^ 

7- 

Florence.^ 

8. 

Margaret.  5 

9- 

L0U.5 

10. 

Samuel  R.^ 

26  Scotch-Irish    McElroys 

Eliza  Jane  (McElroy)  McCully,  (Archibald,^  Archibald,'' 
James^  )  m.  Stephen  McCully,  of  Anderson,  S.  C.    No  issue. 

Margaret*  (McElroy)  Steele  (Archibald,^  Archibald,'' 
James^)  m.  William  Steele,  of  Anderson,  S.  C,  merchant  and 
planter,  member  of  the  Legislature.  The  wife  is  still  living 
(1900)  in  her  eighty-fourth  year,  the  only  survivor  in  her 
father's  family. 

Children  of  Margaret  and  William    Steele. 

1.  Robert  Aaron. ^ 

2.  Sarah  Jane."' 

3.  Martha  Agnes. ^ 

Archibald*  McElroy  (Archibald,^  Archibald,-  James^)  was 
a  graduate  of  the  University  of  Georgia.  Cotton  planter,  m. 
Rebecca  Bellotte,  of  Huguenot  extraction. 

Children  of  Archibald  and  Rebecca  McElroy. 

1.  William  Thomas.^ 

2.  Mattie  Elizabeth.^ 

3.  Robert.^ 

4.  Sarah. ^ 

Samuel  Rayford*  McElroy  (Archibald,^  Archibald,^  James^) 
m.  Montgomery  M.  Dickson.  Was  a  prominent  Christian,  a 
reputable  citizen,  and  captain  in  the  Confederate  army.  He  died 
from  exposure  and  disease  early  in  the  war.  He  had  succeeded 
to  the  ownership  of  the  old  homestead  of  the  McElroys  for  100 
years  past,  now  occupied  by  James  Dickson  McElroy,  of  Den- 
ver, S.  C. 

Children  of  Samuel  R.  and  Montgomery  M.  McElroy. 

1.  William  Henry. ^ 

2.  James  Dickson.^ 

3.  Sarah  Antoinette.^ 


Kentucky  M cElroys  27 

4.  Martha  Ellen.^ 

5.  Samuel  Montgomery.^ 

Martha*  (McElroy)  Wilkes  (Archibald,^  Archibald,^ 
James^)  m.  Thomas  Wilkes,  of  Anderson,  S.  C.  They  had  one 
child,  Thomas^  M.  Wilkes. 

Ellen^  (McElroy)  Ridout  (William  C.,*  Archibald,^  Archi- 
bald,2  James^)  b.  Danville,  Va.,  1835;  m.  Dr.  William  Ridout; 
residence  Annapolis,  Md.  Their  home  and  name  go  back  to 
Colonial  times.  They  own  and  occupy  the  Ridout  homestead, 
built  by  John  Ridout,  who  was  Secretary  to  the  Colonial  Governor 
Sharpe.  In  that  old  home  five  generations  have  been  born.  Mrs. 
Ridout  greatly  prizes  her  Scotch-Irish  McElroy  ancestry  and  is 
in  hearty  accord  with  their  Presbyterianism  and  patriotism. 

Children  of  William  and  Ellen  (McElroy)  Ridout. 

1.  Harriet  Simpson,*'  wife  of  Charles  D.  W.  Ligon,  son  of 

the  late  Governor  Ligon,  Ellicott  City,  Md. 

2.  John,®  M.  D.,  associated    with    his    father    in    medical 

practice. 

3.  William'^  d.  in  infancy. 

4.  Prudence  Gragh.® 

Hugh''  McElroy  (James^)  and  two  younger  brothers,  Samuel 
and  James,  removed  from  Campbell  County,  Va.,  with  their  fam- 
ilies to  what  is  now  Marion  County,  Ky.,  1787-89.  They  were 
pioneers,  locating,  after  a  long  and  dangerous  journey,  in  the 
primeval  forest  near  where  is  now  the  town  of  Lebanon.  Ken- 
tucky was  not  yet  a  state,  but  was  part  of  Virginia.  Kentucky 
County  was  organized  in  1776.  Four  years  later  it  was  divided 
into  three  counties,  and  within  the  next  ten  years  it  contained 
nine  counties.  After  building  their  own  rude  cabins,  the  next 
object  of  concern  was  the  erection  of  a  house  of  worship,  built  of 
logs,  where  Rev.  David  Rice  and  other  pioneers  preached  the 
gospel.     The  church  then  and  there  organized  has  had  a  con- 


28  Scotch-Irish    Mc  Elroys 

tinuous  history  to  the  present  time,  represented  to-day  in  the  two 
Presbyterian  churches  of  Lebanon. 

Children  of  Hugh^  McElroy  and  Esther  Irvine. 


I. 

James.' 

2. 

Margaret.' 

3- 

Sarah.' 

4- 
5- 
6. 

7- 

Mary.' 
John.' 
Hugh.' 
Samuel.' 

8. 

Robert  Abraham.' 

9- 

William.' 

ID. 

Elizabeth.' 

James  m.  ist,  Rosa  Hardin;   2nd,  Mrs.  Dorsey.    No  issue. 

Margaret  m.  Capt.  John  Muldrow  and  moved  to  Missouri. 

Sarah  m.  Sandusky.    Left  a  small  family. 

Mary  m.  ist,  John  Simpson;  2nd,  John  McElroy  (Samuel,* 
James^). 

John  m.  Miss  Hundley. 

Hugh  m.  Miss  Dorsey. 

Samuel  m.  Miss  Wilson.  Family  moved  to  Missouri  and 
Texas. 

Robert  A.  m.  Miss  Hundley.  Left  a  small  family.  Descend- 
ants are  prominent  citizens  in  Marion  and  Washington  counties. 

William  m.  Miss  Crawford.     Left  a  small  family. 

Elizabeth  died  single. 

Capt.  John  Muldrow  gave  his  name,  more  than  a  century  ago, 
to  the  submountainous  range  in  Kentucky  over  lOO  miles  long 
known  as  "Muldrow's  Hill." 

Children  of  Margaret'  and  John  Muldrow. 

1.  Andrew*  m.  Charlotte  Grundy  and  had  eight  children. 

2.  Hugh*  m.  Lettie  Hughes,  daughter  of  Edward  Hughes. 

Their  son  Edward^  m.  Miss  Schooling,  whose  daugh- 
ter^ is  the  wife  of  John  Harrison. 


Kentucky    McElroys  29 

3.  Esther.^ 

4.  James*  m.  Minerva  Grundy,  sister  to  Charlotte  Grundy. 

They  had  nine  children,  names  and  history  unknown. 

5.  Jane.* 

6.  William.* 

7.  John.* 

8.  Samuel*  and 

9.  Mary*  (twins). 

Children  of  Mary^   (McElroy)   and  John  Simpson. 

1.  James*  m.  Miss  Cabell.    Left  five  or  six  children. 

2.  Margaret*  m.  G.  H.  Garten.     Left  five  or  six  children. 

3.  Jane*  m.  J.  C*  McElroy  (John,^  Samuel,^  James^). 

4.  Esther*  m.  James  P.^  McElroy   (Samuel,^  James^). 

James^  McElroy  (James^)  m.  in  Campbell  County,  Va.,  Mar- 
garet Irvine  and  moved  to  Kentucky  in  the  fall  of  1779.  Was  a 
farmer  and  extensive  land  owner.  His  home  was  about  two  miles 
west  of  Lebanon.    He  was  the  fifth  and  youngest  son  of  James.^ 

Children  of  James^  and  Margaret  McElroy. 

1.  John^  d.  in  early  manhood. 

2.  Sarah^  d.  young. 

3.  Elizabeth^  m.  General  Allen,  a  hero  of  the  battle  of  New 

Orleans. 

4.  Margaret^  m.  Dr.  Blythe.    Moved  to  Indiana  or  Illinois. 

5.  Mary^  m.  ist,  Allen;   2nd,  Speed.    Descendants  in  Ken- 

tucky and  Indiana. 

6.  Sarah^  d.  young. 

7.  Nancy^  d.  young. 

8.  Esther^  m.  Felix  B.  Grundy.    Mrs.  Cleaver,  wife  of  Dr'. 

W.  W.  Cleaver,  of  Lebanon,  is  one  of  her  descendants. 

9.  James^  A.  m.  Mary  Irvine.     A  physician  in  Lebanon; 

then  moved  to  Missouri,  where  he  died,  leaving  a  small 
family. 


30  Scotch-Irish    Mc Elroys 

10.  Hannah^  d.  young. 

11.  William  I.^  m.  Jane*  Muldrow.     Removed  to  Missouri, 

A.  D.  1821-23. 

Children  of  William  I.^  and  Jane  (Muldrow)  McElroy. 

Margaret*  m.  Andrew  McElroy,  (Texas). 
Mary  J.*  d.  single. 

3.  Esther*  m.  Thomas  W.  Campbell,   (jMissouri). 

4.  Camilla*  m.  Willis  McReynolds,  (Missouri  and  Texas). 

5.  Sallie  A.*  m.  W.  R.  Campbell,   (Missouri  and  Texas). 

6.  John*  d.  young. 
William  Irvine*  m.  Anna  Muldrow,    (Missouri). 
Alice  Ann*  m.  Dr.  B.  M.  Griffith,  Springfield,  111. 

9.     Charlotte*  m.  N.  Wilson,  (Colorado). 
ID.     Samuel*  d.  young. 
II.     Thomas  Speed*  m.  Miss  Hitson,   (Missouri). 

Samuel-  McElroy  (James^)  was  the  fourth  son  of  James. ^ 
Married  in  Virginia,  probably  in  1766,  Mary  Irvine.  Removed 
to  Kentucky  1779.    Died  1806. 

Children  of  Samuel^  and  Mary  Irvine. 

1.  Sarah^  b.    1767;    m.  Alexander  Handley.     Lived  near 

New  Market. 

2.  John^  b.  1769;  m.  ist,  Miss  Copeland ;  2nd,  Mrs.  Mary' 

Simpson,  widow  of  John  Simpson,  his  cousin. 

3.  James^  b.  1770;    d.  young. 

4.  Hugh^  b.  1772;    m.  Barbara  Gilkie.     A  prominent  citi- 

zen in  Union  County,  Ky.  Farmer,  member  of  the 
Legislature.     Left  one  child,  Hiram.* 

5.  Margaret^  b.  1773;   m.  James  Wilson,  son  of  Capt  Jim- 

mie  Wilson,  the  Indian  scout.  Their  descendants  are 
numerous ;  found  in  Tennessee,  Mississippi,  Arkansas 
and  Texas.  Had  thirteen  children.  The  connection 
in  1848  numbered  97  living  and  a  number  deceased. 


Kentucky    M cElroys  j  i 

6.  Abram^  d.  young. 

7.  William^  E.  b.  1776;  m.  ist,  Keturah  Cleland;  2d,  Mary 

kirk;    d.  1875. 

8.  SamueP  b.  1777;    m.  ist,  Marion  Briggs ;    2d,  Jane  B. 

Grundy. 

9.  Mary^  b.  1778;  m.  William  McColgan.     No  issue. 

10.  James  P.^  (twin)  b.  1780;   m.  Esther  Simpson,  his  sec- 

ond cousin. 

11.  Abram^  (twin)  b.  1780;   m.  Miss  Radford. 

12.  Elizabeth^  m.  George  Wilson. 

13.  Nancy^  m.  George  Robbins. 

Children  of  Sarah^   (McElroy)   and  Alexander  Handley. 

1.  James.* 

2.  Mary.* 

3.  Alexander.* 

James  and  Alexander  m.  sisters,  Sarah  and  Letitia  Cleaver, 
daughters  of  an  old  pioneer  and  magistrate  of  Washington 
County.  They  removed  with  their  families  about  1830  to  Hardin 
County,  Ky.,  thence  some  of  their  descendants  migrated  to  South- 
western Kentucky,  and  others  to  Missouri. 

Mary  m.  Thomas  Carter,  and  lived  and  died  on  the  old  farm 
of  her  father,  near  New  Market,  leaving  several  children,  whose 
descendants  are  still  in  the  same  region. 

John^  McElroy  (Samuel,-  James^)  b.  1769;  m.  Miss  Cope- 
land,  by  whom  he  had  two  children,  James  C*  and  Samuel.*  The 
latter  d.  young. 

James  C*  m.  Jane  Simpson,*  daughter  of  his  stepmother,  and 
had  four  children,  who  became  heads  of  families. 

1.  Mary  Ann^  m.  Basil  Mason  and  left  one  child,  Burgess 

B.  Mason.^ 

2.  Lucetta^  m.  George  W.  Grundy. 

3.  John^  m.  Lucy  Ann  Skiles,  niece  of  Judge  Joseph  Under- 

wood. 


32  Scotch-Irish    McEIroys 

4.     Elizabeth^  m.  J.  Cleland  Raney.     Their  daughter  Eliza- 
beth is  wife  of  a  merchant  in  Dallas,  Tex. 

William  E.^  (Samuel,^  James^)  was  b.  in  Virginia,  1776,  and 
was  thirteen  years  old  when  his  father  and  uncles  removed  to 
Kentucky.  He  was  a  prominent  citizen,  a  man  of  high  character, 
the  head  of  a  numerous  family,  and  lived  to  a  great  age.  He  was 
an  elder  in  the  Presbyterian  Church  for  73  years,  and  passed 
away  in  1875,  in  his  99th  year.  He  m.  ist  Keturah  Cleland,  sister 
of  old  Dr.  Thomas  Cleland,  one  of  the  best  loved  Presbyterian 
ministers  in  Central  Kentucky,  and  daughter  of  Squire  Philip 
Cleland,  an  old  settler  and  cousin  to  Simon  Kenton,  one  of  the 
early  Kentucky  pioneers.  His  second  wife  was  Mary  Kirk, 
daughter  of  James  Kirk,  of  an  old  and  honored  Irish  family.  The 
words  of  her  husband,  who  had  lived  with  her  nearly  half  a  cen- 
tury, may  be  recorded  in  her  praise:  While  she  was  draped  and 
coffined  for  the  grave,  the  old  man,  too  feeble  to  follow  her,  bend- 
ing over  the  coffin,  said :  "There  lies  the  best  woman  that  ever 
lived." 

Children  of  William  E.  and  Keturah   McElroy. 

1.  Maria*  b.  1805;    m.  Joseph  P.  Knott. 

2.  Eliza*  b.  1807;    m.  ist.  Martin  Everhart ;    2d,  Thos.  P. 

Gibbs ;    3d,  Withrow. 

3.  P.  Edwards*  m.  Lydia  A.  Gibbs. 

4.  H.  Paulina*  m.  A.  Scott  Mayes. 

5.  Margaret*  m.  Samuel  F.  Ray. 

Children  of  William  E.^  McElroy  and  Mary  Kirk. 

6.  Paul  I.*  m.   Sue^  McElroy    (Hiram,*  Hugh.-^   Samuel,^ 

James^). 

7.  Robert  L.*  m.  Lizzie  Hughes. 

8.  Cecil  S.*  m.  Fannie  Brown. 

9.  Lucy  Ann*  m.  Samuel  F.  Ray,  widower  of  Margaret. 
10.     William  T.*  m.  Eliza  Cassidav. 


Kentucky    McElroys  33 

11.  James  F.*  m,  Mary  Chapman. 

12.  Samuel  R.*  m.  Belle  Reed. 

13.  Keturah*  m.  Dr.  Hubbard. 

14.  Sarah  d.  young. 

Samuel^  (Samuel,^  James^)  b.  in  Virginia,  1777;  m.  ist, 
Marian  Briggs ;  2d,  Jane  B.  Grundy.  A  natural  orator,  member 
of  Legislature  182 1  and  1822.  Elder  in  Presbyterian  Church 
over  fifty  years. 

Children  of  Samuel  and  Marian   (Briggs)   McElroy. 

1.  Hervey*  b.  1807;   m.  Jane  Grundy. 

2.  George  Whitfield*  b.  Jan.   3,    1809;    d.   near   Natchez, 

Miss.,  Jan.  5,  1842. 

3.  S.  Davies*  b.  181 1;    m.  Mary  Anna  Tate. 

4.  Elizabeth*  b.  1814;   m.  Benedict  Spalding.     No  issue. 

5.  Abram*    b.    1816;     m.    ist,    Eliza    Skiles ;     2d,    Mary 

Buckner. 

6.  Benjamin*  b.  1816.     Twin  brother  of  Abram.    A  physi- 

cian.   Died  single  at  Midway,  Ky. 

7.  Keturah  J.*  b.    1819;    m.   Harvey*  McElroy    ( ,' 

Hugh,^  James^). 

8.  James  H.*  b.  182 1 ;    d.  in  infancy. 

Children  of  Samuel^  and  Jane  (Grundy)   McElroy. 


9 
10 
II 
12 

13 
14 
15 


John  D.*  b.  1823 ;    d.  young. 

W.  Proctor*  b.  1825 ;  m.  Sarah  Tate. 

Marion  B.*  b.  1827 ;   m.  W.  T.  Knott ;   d.  1865. 

Hugh  Sneed*  b.  1829 ;   m.  Lydia  Harrison. 

Mary  Jane*  b.  183 1 ;    d.  in  young  womanhood. 

John  C.  Young*  d.  young. 

Thomas  Cleland*  b.  1838;   d.  in  infancy. 


James  P.^  McElroy  (Samuel,^  James^)  b.  1780;    m.  Esther* 
Simpson  (Mary,^  Hugh,-  James^).     First  occupied  his  farm  one 


-74  Scotch-Irish    Mc Elroys 

mile  northwest  of  Lebanon,  then  removed,  between  1820  and  1830, 
to  Missouri,  settHng  near  Palmyra. 

Children  of  James  P.  and  Esther  McElroy. 

1.  Brenetta*  m.  John  Leland  McElroy^  (Abram,^  Samuel,^ 

James^). 

2.  Franklin    Blair*  m.  Ann    Porter.     Resided  in    Hanni- 

bal, Mo. 

3.  Alvey  Nelson'*  m.  ,  Ralls  County,  Mo. 

4.  Milford*  m.  ,  Ralls  County,  Mo. 

5.  Belfield*  m.  ist.  Miss  McReynolds ;    2d,  Miss  Forsythe. 

Reside  at  Palmyra,  Mo.     No  issue. 

6.  Sydney  Gallagher^  unmarried,  Ralls  County,  Mo. 

7.  Apolita*  m.  McClure,  Marion  County,  Mo. 

8.  Bigler*  d.  young. 

9.  Virgil*  d.  young. 

Abram^  McElroy  (Samuel,-  James^).  Twin  brother  of  James 
P.,  b.  1780.  He  and  his  brother  Hugh  occupied  the  old  farm  and 
cared  for  their  parents  until  their  death.  After  the  marriage  of 
their  two  younger  sisters  the  old  homestead  passed  into  the 
possession  of  SamueP  McElroy  (Hugh,^  James^)  in  whose  pos- 
session it  remained  for  many  years.  Abram  moved  to  South- 
western Kentucky,  where  he  m.  Miss  Radford,  in  Christian 
County ;   thence  he  moved  to  West  Ely,  Marion  County,  Mo. 


Children  of  Abram^  McElroy. 

John  Leland*  m.  Brenetta*  McElroy. 
Apphia  Ann*  m.  Jack  Muldrow. 
Emily  Jane*  d.  single ;   aet.  32. 
Mary  Malvina*  m.  Israel  Twombly. 
Addison  Samuel*  d.  in  infancy. 
Araminta  McChord*  d.  in  young  womanhood. 
Marian  Katharine  Johnson*  d.  unmarried. 
Benjamin  Newton*  m.  Eliza  Foreman. 


Kentucky    M cElroys  3j 

9.     James  Abram  Blackburn*  m.  Cordelia  F.  Finley. 

10.  Elizabeth  Eudora*  m.  Rev.  B.  E.  S.  Ely,  D.D.,  a  cousin 

to  Gen.  G.  B.  McClellan. 

11.  Cicely  Ann*  m.  William  Radford. 

Burgess    Burr    Mason*^    (Mary    Ann,^    James    C.,*    John,^ 

Samuel,^    James^)    m.    Hundlie    BlackwelP     ( ,*    Sarah/* 

Hugh,^  James^).     Their  children 

1.  William    Basil^  m.  Maud    Maxwell,  in    Kansas,   1884. 

They  have  two  children :  Burgess  B.^  b.  1885  ;  William 
B.  b.  1886. 

2.  Alexander  H.^  m.,   1884,  Rowena  Hall,  of  Lx^uisville. 

Their    children    were    Mary    HalP  d.  an    infant,  and 
Alex.  H.«  b.  1887. 

Children  of  Lucetta^  (McElroy)  and  George  W.  Grundy. 

1.  John  L.®  m.  Rosa  Cleland,  daughter  of  Rev.  Thos.  H. 

Cleland,  D.D. 

2.  James  A.^  m.  Mattie,  daughter  of  Hon.  James  M.  Fogle; 

resides  Nashville,  Tenn. 

3.  Susan®  m.  Joseph  Howell,  a  banker,  Nashville;    have  a 

daughter  Ethel. 

John  McElroy^  (James  C*  John,^  Samuel,^  James^)  m.  Lucy 
Ann  Skiles,  of  Warren  County,  niece  of  the  eminent  Judge  Joseph 
Underwood  and  of  Hon.  Warner  Underwood. 

Children  of  John^  and  Lucy  McElroy. 

1.  A  son*'  who  d.  in  early  youth. 

2.  Mattie*'  m.  Robert  Lyle.     Reside  in  Marion  County,  and 

have  several  children. 

3.  Willie®    m.  January    Grundy,    farmer,  near    Lebanon; 

several  children. 

4.  Lucy®  m.  Andrew  Cochrane,  lawyer;    have  several  chil- 

dren.    Reside  in  Mayville,  Ky. 


^6  Scotch-Irish    McElroys 

5.  Ella.« 

6.  Cetta.^ 

7.  Lillie  m.  Franklin  Ray,  farmer,  Marion  County. 

Hiram*  McElroy  (Hugh,^  Samuel,^  James^)  b.  1800.  Law- 
yer, member  of  the  Legislature,  either  Senate  or  House,  for 
twenty-seven  years.  Resided  in  Southwestern  Kentucky,  Union 
County.     Married  Mary  Clements. 

Children  of  Hiram^  and  Mary  (Clements)  McElroy. 


I 
2 

3 

4 
5 
6 

7 
8 

9 
10 


Hugh^  b.  1825. 
Mary  E.^  b.  1827. 
Addie^  b.  1830. 
Sue^  b.  1833. 
Barbara^  b.  1835. 
Hiram^  b.  1837. 
Len^  b.  1839. 
Martha^  b.  1841. 
James^  b.  1843. 
Sarah^  b.  1845. 


Maria*  (McElroy)  Knott  (William  E.,^  Samuel,-  James^) 
m.  Joseph  P.  Knott,  of  English  descent,  an  educated  man  and 
teacher,  i8i9-'2i.  Member  of  Legislature  i833-'34,  contractor 
in  constructing  macadamized  road  over  Muldrow's  Hill,  i835-'36 

Children  of  Maria  (McElroy)  and  Joseph  P.  Knott. 


William  T.^  b.  1822. 
Keturah  F.^  b.  1824. 
Samuel  C.^  b.  1826. 
M.  Minnie^  b.  1828. 
J.  Proctor^  b.  1830. 
Edwards  W.^  b.  1833. 
Annie  M.^  b.  1836. 
Joanna^  b.  1838. 


Kentucky    McElroys  37 

Eliza  McElroy"*  (William  E.,^  Samuel,-  James^)  m.  ist,  Mar- 
tin Everhart,  who  died  soon  after  marriage;  2d,  Thomas  P. 
Gibbs,  a  nephew  of  Governor  Wickliffe  and  cousin  to  Hon.  Ben 
Hardin ;  3d, Withrow. 

Children  of  Eliza  (McElroy)  and  Thomas  P.  Gibbs. 

1.  William  E.,^  lawyer  at  Batesville,  Ark.;   major  in  Con- 

federate army  under  General  Price,  losing  life  in  the 
service. 

2.  Margaret  M.^  m.  U.  M.  Rose,  lawyer  at  Batesville  and 

Little  Rock,  Ark. 

Philip  Edwards*  McElroy  (William  E.,^  Samuel,^  James^) 
m.  Lydia  Ann  Gibbs,  sister  of  Thomas  P.  Gibbs. 

Children  of  Philip  Edwards  and  Lydia  Ann  McElroy. 

1.  Keturah^  m.  James  Chapman,  Bowling  Green,  Ky.     No 

issue. 

2.  Sarah  R,^  m.  J.  Proctor  Knott,  her  cousin.    No  children. 

3.  Annie  Maria^  d.  young. 

H.  Paulina*  (McElroy)  Mayes  (William  E.,^  Samuel,^ 
James^)  m.  A.  Scott  Mayes,  farmer,  stock  raiser  and  trader  in 
the  Southern  markets.  They  have  three  children  surviving;  two 
or  three  d.  young. 

Children  of  Paulina  (McElroy)  and  A.  Scott  Mayes. 

1.  Keturah^  m.    ist,  Robert  Extine  Grundy,  Presbyterian 

minister,  d.  early ;  2d,  William  Johnston,  business  man, 
assassinated  in  prime  of  life ;  3d, Hayes,  of  Louis- 
ville, leaving  several  children. 

2.  Eusebias,^  farmer,  Washington  County,  m.  Mary  Curry. 

Has  several  children. 

3.  William,^  farmer,  m.  Miss  Forsythe.  They  have  two  chil- 

dren. 


38  Scotch-Irish    McElroys 

Margaret  J.*  (McElroy)  Ray  (William  E.,^  Samuel,* 
James^)  m.  Samuel  F.  Ray,  farmer  and  prominent  citizen. 

Children  of  Margaret   (McElroy)   and  Samuel  F.  Ray. 

1.  Albert^  Newton  d.  young. 

2.  William  E.^  m.  ist,  Annie  Logan;    2d,  Fannie  Froman. 

3.  Elizabeth^  m.  Edward  Miller,  widowed  husband  of  Lucy 

(Texas). 

4.  Priscilla^  m.  Richard  Chandler,  merchant  in  Texas. 

5.  Anna  E.^  m.  R.  B.  Edmonds,  business  man  in  Lebanon. 

6.  Lucy^  m.  Edward  Miller ;    d.  early. 

Paul  L*  McElroy  (William  E.,^  Samuel.-  James^)  m.  Sue 
McElroy  (Hiram,^  Hugh,^  Samuel,-  James^).  He  is  a  farmer, 
an  elder  in  the  church,  living  on  the  old  farm  of  his  father  near 
Lebanon.    His  wife  d.  1884. 

Children  of  Paul  L  and  Sue  McElroy, 

L  Irvine.^ 

2.  Nannie.^ 

3.  Jennie.^ 

4.  Proctor.^ 

Robert  L.'*  McElroy  (William  E.,^  Samuel,^  James^)  m.  Eliza- 
beth C.  Hughes.  Fanner,  and  elder  in  the  church.  Early  in  their 
married  life  they  removed  to  Texas,  where  they  continued  to 
reside. 

Children  of  Robert  L.   and  Elizabeth   McElroy. 


Thomas  H.^  b.  1854;    d.  in  early  youth. 

Mary  Letitia^  b.   1856;    m.,   1878,  P.   C.  Harty. 

Lucy  Belle^  b.  1858;    d.  in  young  womanhood. 

Margaret  Hetty^  b.  i860;   m.,  1881,  A.  H.  P.  McCurdy. 

Edward  H.^  b.  1862. 

William  R.^  b.  1864. 


Kentucky    McElroys  39 

7.  James  C.^  b.  1866;   m.,  1887,  Ida  Allen.    They  have  one 

child,  Robert*'  A.  McElroy. 

8.  Herbert  Lee^  b.  1870. 

9.  Celia^  b.   1870.     Twin  sister  to  Herbert. 

10.  Franklin^  b.  1873. 

11.  Samuel  Bracken^  b.  1875. 

Cecil  S.*  McElroy  (William  E.,^  Samuel,-  James^)  m.  Fannie 
Brown.  A  farmer.  Resides  in  Davis  County,  Ky.  Their  only 
child,  Susan  Mary,^  m.  Dr.  McCarty. 

Lucy  Ann*  (McElroy)  Ray  (William  E.,^  Samuel,-  James^) 
m.  Samuel  F.  Ray,  the  widower  of  her  older  sister,  Margaret. 

Children  of  Lucy  Ann    (McElroy)    and  Samuel  F.  Ray. 

1.  McElroy  Ray^  went  to  Texas.    Married  Mary  L.  Miller, 

of  Belton^  Tex. 

2.  Maggie'^  b.  1855 ;    m.  Joseph  W.  Wakefield,  of  Nelson 

County,  1876. 

3.  Paul  Franklin^  b.  i860;    m.  Lillie  McElroy. 

4.  Lee  D.^  b.  1861 ;    m.  Lillie  Rountree,  1886.     One  son, 

Harrison  R.*' 

5.  Charles  F.^  Ray  b.  1870. 

William  T.*  McElroy  (William  E.,^  Samuel,^  James^).  A 
graduate  of  Centre  College,  Danville,  Ky.,  and  of  Union  Theo- 
logical Seminary,  New  York.  Married  Eliza,  daughter  of  Samuel 
Cassiday,  of  Louisville.  Held  pastorates  at  Glasgow,  Perrysville 
and  Maysville,  and  later  at  Louisville.  His  oldest  son,  Samuel 
Addison,^  is  a  Presbyterian  minister.  Born  Louisville,  i860; 
graduated  Princeton  Theological  Seminary,  1885.  Pastor 
Eufaula,  Ala.,  i888-'9i ;    Cape  Girardeau,  Mo.,  1891. 

James  Franklin  McElroy  (William  E.,^  Samuel,^  James^). 
A  physician  at  Bowling  Green.     Married  Mary  Chapman.    They 


40  Scotch-Irish    M c Elroys 

have  three  children.     One  of  these,  William,^  is  a  bank  clerk  in 
Bowling  Green. 

Samuel  Rice*  McElroy  (William  E.,^  Samuel,^  James^) 
m.  Mary  Belle  Reed,  of  Washington  County,  January  22,  1856. 
Now  residing  (1900)  in  Chicago. 

Children   of   Samuel  R.   and   Mary   B.   McElroy. 

1.  William  R.^  b.  December  17,  1856.     Presbyterian  minis- 

ter, West  Plains,  Mo. 

2.  James  Edward^  b.  1858;   m.  Miss  Beckam,  of  Arkansas. 

They  have  had  two  children.     He  d.  in  1894,  Kansas 
City. 

3.  Robert  LemueP  b.  1861.    Merchant,  Chicago,  111. 

4.  Lilly^  b.  1863 ;    m.,  1884,  Harry  Tappan,  Kansas  City. 

5.  Mary  Rice^  b.  1865 ;   m.,  1882,  Daniel  W.  Brown,  attor- 

ney, Kansas  City. 

6.  Frank  Braxton^  b.   1867,  Detroit. 

7.  Annie  Belle^  b.  1869. 

8.  Grace^  d.  in  early  childhood. 

Keturah*  (McElroy)  Hubbard  (William  E.,^  Samuel,- 
James^)  m.  Dr.  George  Hubbard,  of  Taylor  County,  and  removed 
to  Munfordsville,  Hart  County.  The  names  of  their  children 
not  known. 

Hervey*  McElroy  (Samuel,^  Samuel, ^  James^)  b.  1807;  m. 
Jane  Grundy,  sister  of  Rev.  Robert  C.  Grundy,  D.  D.,  farmer  and 
stock  raiser  near  Lebanon. 

Children  of  Hervey  and  Jane  G.  McElroy. 

1.  Elizabeth  M.^  m.  William   Simpson^    ( ,*   Mary,^ 

Hugh,-  James^). 

2.  Samuel  G.^  m.  Ellen  Skiles,  of  Bowling  Green. 

3.  Davis^  d.  unmarried. 


Kentucky    M  cElroys  41 

4.  Extine^  d.  unmarried. 

5.  Hervey^  migrated  to  California.    Unmarried. 

6.  Thomas  C.^  m.  Elizabeth  Field.     Two  children  d. ;  four 

now  living. 

7.  Benjamin^  m.  Lizzie  Gartin.     They  have  one  child. 

8.  Mollie^  m.  Guthrie,  a  merchant  in  Paducah,  Ky. 

George  Whitfield*  McElroy  (Samuel,^  Samuel,^  James^) 
b.  January  3,  1809;  graduated  from  Center  College  1833;  studied 
theology  at  Princeton,  N.  J. ;  ordained  by  Presbytery  of  West 
Lexington,  September  28,  1838.  He  visited  Liberia,  West 
Africa,  as  agent  of  the  American  Colonization  Society,  and  upon 
his  return  became  pastor  at  Winchester,  Ky.  At  a  later  time  he 
had  charge  of  the  Salem  church.  On  account  of  impaired  health 
he  was  advised  to  go  South.  He  received  a  call  to  become  the 
successor  of  Dr.  John  Breckenridge,  in  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church  of  New  Orleans.  On  his  way  south  the  final  summons 
came.  He  d.  near  Natchez,  Miss.,  January  5,  1842.  He  was  a 
young  man  of  fine  abilities  and  attainments.  He  d.  single,  yet 
betrothed.    The  end  came  just  before  the  day  set  for  his  marriage. 

S.  Davies*  McElroy  (Samuel,^  Samuel,^  James^)  b.  1811 ;  m. 
Anna  Tate.  Became  a  farmer ;  then  gave  his  attention  to  medi- 
cine and  became  a  skilled  physician.  Died  early,  leaving  three 
children. 

Children  of  S.  Davies  and  Anna  McElroy. 

1.  Marion  Briggs.^ 

2.  Sarah  Finley^  m.  Robert  McElroy,  descendant  of  Hugh.^ 

They    reside    in    Washington    County,  and    have    no 
children. 

3.  Isaac  Tate^  d.  in  early  manhood. 

Abram*  McElroy  (Samuel,^  Samuel,^  James^)  b.  1816;  m., 
1st,  Eliza  Skiles,  sister  to  Lucy  Ann,  of  the  noted  Underwood 


42  Scotch-Irish    M c Elroys 

family;    2d,  Mary  Buckner,  of  the  family  of  Buckners  famous 
in  Kentucky  as  jurists  and  statesmen. 

Children  of  Abram*  and  Eliza  McElroy. 

1.  George  Whitfield^  m.  Lucy  Cleaver,  descendant  of  James^ 

McElroy. 

2.  Clarence  Underwood"'  m.  Miss  Trigg,  of  Glasgow.    Law- 

yer of  high  standing.     Member  of  the  Legislature. 

Children  of  Abram  and  Mary  McElroy, 

3.  Litie^  m.  E.  Montgomery,  farmer. 

4.  Buckner.^ 

5.  Minnie.^ 

Keturah*  J.  McElroy  (Samuel,^  Samuel,-  James^)  b.  1819; 
m.  Harvey*  McElroy,  grandson  of  Hugh,^  d.  early. 

Children  of  Keturah  and  Harvey  McElroy. 

1.  W.  Wallace^  m.  Margaret  Montgomery,  of  Washington 

County. 

2.  Marion'^  m.  Thomas  Young,  lawyer,  of  Bath  County. 

3.  Alice^  m.  J.  B.  Goodpasture,  banker,  Owensville.     No 

issue. 

4.  Katie^  d.  in  young  womanhood. 

W.  Proctor  McElroy*  (Samuel,^  Samuel,-  James^)  b.  1825; 
m.  Sarah  Tate,  of  Green  County.    Elder  in  Presbyterian  Church. 

Children  of  W.  Proctor  and  Sarah  McElroy. 

1.  SamueF  m.  Miss  Glass,  of  Shelby  County.    Have  several 

children.     Reside  in  Kansas. 

2.  Mary,  unmarried. 

3.  Anne. 


Kentucky    M cElroys  43 

4.  Isaac  T.,  a  Presbyterian  minister.  Began  his  ministerial 
work  in  Missouri;  then  in  Kentucky,  was  on  duty  at 
Stanford  and  Mt.  Sterhng,  and  later  at  Lexington. 
For  a  time  he  was  agent  for  Central  University,  Rich- 
mond, Ky. 

Hugh  Sneed*  McElroy  (Samuel,^  Samuel,^  James^)  b.  1829. 
Became  a  Presbyterian  minister.  In  1850  he  took  charge  of  the 
church  at  Midway,  Ky.  In  1855  he  became  pastor  of  the  Jeffer- 
son Avenue  Church,  Detroit,  where  he  continued  until  his  death 
in  December,  1857.  Married  Lydia  S.  Harrison,  of  Honesdale, 
Pa.,  of  English  descent  and  nearly  related  to  the  Abbots,  widely 
known  in  the  circles  of  literature. 

Children  of  Rev.  Hugh  Sneed  and  Lydia  McElroy. 

1.  Martha  LaRose^  m.  James  B.  Shepard,  real  estate,  Kan- 

sas City. 

2.  George  Sneed,^  Kansas  City. 

Mary^  McElroy  (Samuel,^  James^)  b.  1778;  m.  William 
McColgan.  Resided  in  Taylor  County.  They  had  no  children. 
They  owned  a  large  family  of  negroes,  whom  they  freed  and  set- 
tled on  farms  in  Ohio,  at  their  death. 

Brenetta*  McElroy  (James  P.,^  Samuel,^  James^)  m.  her 
cousin,  John  Leland*  McElroy  (Abram,^  Samuel,^  James^). 
Farmer,  located  near  Palmyra,  Mo. 

Children  of  John  Leland  and  Brenetta  McElroy 

1.  Mary  Eudora.^ 

2.  Laura  Brenetta.^ 

Franklin  Blair*  McElroy  (James  P.,^  Samuel, ^  James^) 
m.  Ann  Porter.  Was  a  Presbyterian  minister.  Resided  in  Han- 
nibal, Mo. 


44  Scotch-Irish    M c Elroys 

Children  of  Rev.  Franklin  B.  and  Ann  McElroy. 

1.  James"  d.  unmarried. 

2.  Annie^  m.  J.  Fuller,  a  Presbyterian  minister. 

3.  Charles^  m.  Miss  Baird.    Reside  in  Carthage,  Mo.    Have 

two  children,  Nellie®  and  Walter.® 

4.  Franklin^  is  a  journalist  in  Southwestern  Missouri. 

5.  William^  is  a  widower,  in  business  in  Colorado. 

6.  Mamie^  m.  William  Thomas,  bank  employe  in  Denver, 

Col. 

Apphia  Ann*  McElroy  (Abram,^  Samuel,-  James^)  m.  Jack 
Muldrow,  descendant  of  John  and  Margaret  Muldrow. 

Children  of  Apphia  Ann   (McElroy)  and  Jack  Muldrow. 

1.  John  A.^  m.   Mary  Rhodes.      Have    three    daughters, 

Annie,®  Rose,®  Gertrude.® 

2.  Rhoda^  m.  T.  F.  Priest.     Died  early ;    left  a  daughter, 

Willena.® 

Mary  Malvina*  McElroy  (Abram,^  Samuel,-  James^)  m. 
Israel  Twombly.  Their  one  daughter,  Mary  E.,^  m.  Calvin  Fore- 
man. Their  grandchildren  are  Laura  Dean®  Foreman  and  Paul 
Findley®  Foreman. 

Benjamin  Newton*  McElroy  (Abram,^  Samuel,-  James^) 
m.  Eliza  Foreman.  Their  children  are  Benjamin  A.^  and 
Susie  M.s 

James  Abram  Blackburn*  McElroy  (Abram,^  Samuel,* 
James^)  m.  Cordelia  F.  Finley. 

Children  of  James  A.  B.  and  Cordelia  McElroy. 

1.  James  A.  B.,  jr.,^  m.  Minnie  Moore. 

2.  Bettie  F.^  m.  John  West,  and  has  one  child,  Eva®  West. 


Kentucky    McElroys  45 

3.  M.  Eva^    m.    George    Turner.      They    have    one    child, 

Frances®  Turner. 

4.  Warner  F.^     In  St.  Louis. 

5.  CordeHa  F.^ 

Elizabeth  Eudora*  McElroy  (Abram,^  Samuel,^  James^') 
m.  Ben  Ezra  Stiles  Ely,  a  cousin  of  Gen.  Geo.  B.  McClellan.  His 
father,  of  same  name,  was  for  many  years  a  pastor  in  Philadel- 
phia, and  founder  in  later  years  of  Marion  College  in  North  Mis- 
souri. The  son  studied  law  and  practiced  his  profession  for  some 
years  in  California,  and  was  a  member  of  the  California  Legis- 
lature. Forsaking  the  law  he  entered  the  Presbyterian  ministry. 
He  has  held  important  pastorates,  in  Chicago,  at  Willow  Creek, 
111.,  at  Ottumwa,  Iowa,  and  at  Winterset,  Iowa.  He  now  resides 
in  Des  Moines. 

Children  of  Elizabeth  E.  McElroy  and  Rev.  B.  E.  S. 

Ely,  D.  D. 

1.  B.  E.  S.  Ely,^  jr.,  D.  D.,  m.  Sally  Pryor.    Pastor  Presby- 

terian Church,  Rockford,  111. 

2.  George  M.^  d.  young. 

3.  Laura^  m.  Rev.    Dr.    E.    L.  Curtis,  Professor    in    Yale 

Theological  School,   New  Haven,  Conn.     They  have 
children  Bessie,®  Margaret,®  Edward.® 

4.  Rose  m.  Rev.  Samuel  F.  Moore.     They  are  missionaries 

in  Corea. 

5.  Charles  Wadsworth^  d.  in  young  manhood. 

6.  Anita,  deceased. 

HuGH°  McElroy  (Hiram,*  Hugh,^  Samuel,^  James^)  m.  ist, 
M.  E.  Arnold;  2d,  S.  E.  Lindo.  Descendants  are  in  Union 
County,  Ky. 

Childrbn  of  Hugh  McElroy  and  M.  E.  (Arnold)  McElroy. 

1.  Emma®  b.  1847;   ^n-  Samuel  Abell. 

2.  Sue®  b.  1847 ;   twin  sister  with  Emma. 


46  Scotch-Irish    M c Elroys 


John*'  b.  1849;  m.  Louisa  Harris. 

Sallie"^  b.  1851. 

£113*=  b.  1853;    m.  R.  W.  Abell. 

William  B.  b.  1855. 

Mollie  b.  1857;    m.  Robert  Thomas. 


Mary  E.^  McElroy  (Hiram,*  Hugh,^  Samuel,^  James^)  b. 
1827;   m.  Hiram  Senour. 

Children  of  Mary  E.   (McElroy)  and  Hiram  Senour. 

1.  Bella"  b.  1854 ;  m.  Watt  Washington.    Has  two  children. 

2.  Dish«  b.  1856. 

3.  Fanny"  b.  1858;    m.  J.  Daniels.     Has  four  children. 

4.  James"  b.  1865. 

Addie^  McElroy  (Hiram,*  Hugh,^  Samuel,-  James^)  b.  1830; 
m.  J.  Bailey.    Have  four  children. 

1.  Edward"  b.  i860. 

2.  Mattie"  (twin)  b.  1869. 

3.  Mollie"   (twin)   b.   1869. 

4.  John"  b.  1873. 

Barbara^  McElroy  (Hiram,*  Hugh,^  Samuel,^  James^)  b. 
1835 ;  m.  W.  R.  Greathouse,  steamboat  captain  on  lower  Missis- 
sippi, residing  in  New  Orleans. 

Children  of  Barbara  and  Capt.  W.  R.  Greathouse. 

1.  W.  R.  Greathouse,"  jr.,  b.   1859.     Consul  at  Tampico, 

Mexico. 

2.  McElroy"  b.  1861. 

3.  Grafton"  b.   1863. 

4.  Waverly"  b.  1865. 

5.  Violet"  b.  1867;   d.  young. 

6.  Tillie"  b.  1869. 

7.  James"  b.  1870. 


i 


William   '\\  Knott/'  Ph.  D. 
Maria    McElroy*    Knott,    William    E..^^  Sannie],-  James^ 


Kentucky  McElroys  47 

HiRAM^  McElroy  (Hiram,*  Hugh,^  Samuel,^  James^)  b.  1837; 
m.  Carrie  Watts,  of  New  Orleans.  Owns  and  operates  one  of 
the  finest  farms  in  Union  County. 

Children   of   Hiram    and  Carrie    (Watts)    McElroy. 


I. 

Courtney  W."  b.  1876 

2. 

Viola«  b.  1878. 

3- 

Hiram«  b.  1880. 

4- 

CaswelP  b.  1882. 

5- 

Nellie  R.«  b.  1885. 

6. 

Carrie  L.«  b.  1888. 

Len  McElroy^  (Hiram,*  Hugh,^  Samuel,-  James^)  b.  1839; 
m.  Mary  McCauley.  A  farmer  in  Union  County.  They  have  two 
children,  Len^  b.  1885,  and  one  b.  1889. 

Martha^  McElroy  (Hiram,*  Hugh,^  Samuel,^  James^)  b. 
1841  ;  m.  Cyrus  Higginson,  a  banker  at  Waco,  Tex.  Their 
children, 


Green*^  b.  1867. 
Birdie«  b.  1869. 
Ord«  b.  1871. 
Mattie*'  b.  1873. 
Annie®  b.  1878. 
Vara"  b.  1879. 
Ruth"  b.  1882. 


James^  McElroy  (Hiram,*  Hugh,^  Samuel,^  James^)  is  un- 
married.    Resides  in  New  Orleans.     Engaged  in  business. 

Marion  Briggs*  McElroy  (Samuel,^  Samuel,^  James^)  b. 
1827 ;  m.  her  cousin,  William  T.  Knott,  who  was  b.  October  10, 
1822.  Resided  at  Lebanon.  Died  February  7,  1899.  A  man  of 
scholarly  tastes  and  attainments,  a  public  spirited  citizen,  and 
prominent  as  a  teacher  and  school  superintendent.     His  standing 


48  Scotch-Irish    McElroys 

as  a  scientist  secured  for  him  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Philosophy, 
conferred  by  Center  College.  He  was  a  steadfast  friend  and 
worker  in  the  Lebanon  Presbyterian  Church.  He  had  high 
appreciation  of  the  sturdy  character  and  noble  traits  of  those 
Scotch-Irish  ancestors  to  whom  he  and  we  and  our  country  are 
so  much  indebted.  From  early  youth  he  seemed  to  have  a  taste 
for  genealogical  researches  and  inquiries.  He  was  much  in  the 
company  of  his  venerated  grandfather,  Elder  William  E. 
McElroy,  and  listened  with  delighted  interest  to  the  stories  of  the 
old  gentleman  as  he  related  what  he  had  seen  and  known,  and 
what  parents  and  grandparents  had  told  him  of  the  olden  time. 
William  Knott  was  thoughtful  enough  to  make  memoranda  of 
those  old  stories,  specially  in  the  line  of  family  history.  As  the 
years  passed  he  was  careful  to  keep  posted  in  regard  to  indi- 
viduals and  families  who  from  the  McElroy  headquarters  at 
Lebanon  went  out  westward  and  southward  and  northward  to 
other  localities  and  homes.  To  his  thoughtfulness  we  are 
indebted  for  the  names  and  dates  and  facts  given  in  this  account 
of  the  Kentucky  McElroys.  Dr.  Knott  published  in  1895  a  his- 
tory of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  Marion  County,  Ky.,  a  narra- 
tive full,  and  of  great  interest,  and  which  no  other  person  could 
have  given,  dating  from  the  founding  of  the  church  in  1789.  He 
had  in  contemplation  the  publication  of  a  "History  of  the 
McElroys,"  for  which  he  had  accumulated  material  and  on  which 
his  pen  had  been  engaged,  but  which  he  did  not  live  to  complete. 
Mrs.  Marion  Knott  d.  1865.  Dr.  Knott  m.  a  second  wife,  Lydia, 
widow  of  Hugh  Sneed  McElroy.  who  survives  him,  residing  with 
her  daughter,  Mrs.  Shepard,  in  Mexico. 

Children  of  W.  T.    and  Marion  (^McElroy)  Knott. 

I.  Joseph  McElroy^  (Marion,*  W.  T.  K.^)  is  cashier  of 
Marion  National  Bank.  Lebanon,  Ky.  Married  Mattie 
Rubel.  Has  three  children.  William  Walter,  b.  Feb- 
ruary 22,  1878;  Joseph  Proctor,  b.  October  15,  1890, 
and  Marion  Katharine,  b.  September  24,  1893. 


Kentucky  M cElroys  49 

2.  William  S.,  a  successful  lawyer  in  Los  Angeles,   Cal. 

Married  Lulu  Pierce,  sister  of  Judge  James  Pierce  and 
of  Hon.  William  Pierce,  Consul  to  Hawaii  under  Presi- 
dent Arthur.  They  have  a  son,  James  Proctor,  b.  in 
1886. 

3.  Miss  Kate  Grundy  lives  with  her  brother  in  Lebanon. 

Three  children  of  Dr.  Knott  died  in  infancy,  and  a 
grown  daughter,  Jennie  Marion,  in  later  years. 

KeturAh  F.  Knott^  (Maria,*  William  E.,-''  Samuel,^  James^) 
b.  1824;  m.  Wells  Rawling,  of  Missouri.  Has  five  children, 
William,^  Proctor,®  Minnie,*^  Mattie,*'  and  Annie.''  Lives  with 
a  married  daughter  in  Northeastern  Missouri. 

Samuel  C.  Knott^  (Maria,*  William  E.,^  Samuel,^  James^) 
b.  1826;  m.  Sarah  Gates,  of  Georgia.  Lives  in  Scotland  County, 
Mo.  Has  filled  two  or  three  offices  of  honor  and  trust.  They  had 
seven  children : 


Elizabeth. 

Joseph. 

Benjamin. 

Edwards. 

Minnie. 

Annie. 

Samuel. 


M.  Minnie^  Knott  (Maria,*  William  E.,^  Samuel, ^  James^) 
b.  1826;  m.  Robert  T.  Nesbit,  of  Missouri.  They  have  two 
children. 

1.  James"  m.  his  cousin,  Annie  Knott,  daughter  of  Samuel. 

Is  Clerk  of  the  Court,  Scotland  County,  Mo. 

2.  Robert,*'   unmarried.     Is   connected   with   the  Standard 

and  Times,  of  Lebanon,  Ky. 


50  Scotch-Irish    M c Elroys 

J.  Proctor  Knott^  (Maria,*  William  E.,^  Samuel,^  James^) 
b.  1830;  m.  1st,  Mary  Froman,  who  d.  soon  after  marriage;  2d, 
Sallie  R.  McElroy,  daughter  of  P.  Edwards  and  Lydia  Ann 
(Gibbs).  They  have  no  children.  The  name  and  record  of 
Proctor  Knott  have  become  public  property,  known  and  honored 
not  only  in  Kentucky  but  throughout  the  United  States.  Having 
studied  law  in  his  native  Kentucky,  he  went  to  North  Missouri 
and  entered  upon  his  professional  career.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  Missouri  Constitutional  Convention,  and  of  the  Legislature, 
and  when  the  war  broke  out  he  was  Attorney-General  of  the  State. 
He  then  returned  to  Kentucky  and  practiced  law  at  Lebanon. 
During  twelve  years  he  represented  his  district  in  Congress,  and 
in  1883  became  Governor  of  the  State.  His  reputation  as  a  law- 
yer, statesman  and  orator  is  of  the  highest. 

Edwards  W.  Knott^  (Maria,*  William  E.,^  Samuel,^  James^) 
m.  Mattie  McCoy  and  resides  in  St.  Louis.  Engaged  in  insurance 
business.  He  was  for  a  time  Assistant  Insurance  Agent  of  the 
State  of  Missouri.     They  had  several  children. 

Annie  Maria  Knott'^  (Maria,*  William  E.,^  Samuel,^  James^) 
m.  J.  R.  Hudnall,  merchant,  of  Memphis,  Mo.,  and  d.  early. 
Their  one  child,  Annie  Maria  Hudnall,^  is  a  successful  teacher, 
on  duty  in  the  High  School  at  Carson  City,  Nev. 

Joanna  Knott^  (Maria,*  William  E.,^  Samuel,^  James^)  m. 
Rev.  M.  C.  Gorin,  a  Presbyterian  minister  in  St.  Louis.  Their 
children  are : 

1.  Alice''  who  m.  a  Mr.   Harrison,  a  lawyer,  residing  in 

Duluth. 

2.  Maud.'' 

3.  Fred.^     In  St.  Louis. 

4.  Grant.''    A  merchant  in  Fulton,  Mo. 

Margaret^  Gibbs  (Eliza,*  William  E.,"  Samuel,^  James^)  m. 


Hon.  J.  Proctor  Knott 


Kentucky  McElroys  51 

Uriah  M.  Rose,  a  young  lawyer  of  Lebanon,  Ky.  They  settled 
at  Batesville,  Ark.,  and  after  a  few  years  removed  to  Little  Rock, 
where  they  still  reside.  Judge  Uriah  M.  Rose  occupies  a  high 
position  as  a  scholar  and  jurist,  and  as  a  practitioner  in  State  and 
United  States  Courts. 

Children  of  Margaret  P.   (Gibbs)   and  Judge  U.  M.  Rose. 

1.  John  M.5  b.  1855;   m.,  1877,  Lilian  May  Kelly,  of  Mal- 

vern, Ark.  Only  two  of  their  five  children  survive, 
William  G.*'  and  Wallace  D.*^  John  M.  Rose  is  a  law- 
yer residing  at  Little  Rock. 

2.  William  G.^  b.  1857.     Lawyer,  Butler,  Mo.    Unmarried. 

3.  George  B.^  b.  i860.     Associated  with  his  father  in  law 

practice.  Married.  1882,  Miss  Marion  Kimball.  They 
have  one  son,  Clarence  E.,  b.  1883. 

4.  Fanny^  b.  1863;   m.  in  1884  to  W.  W.  Dickerson,  mer- 

chant. Their  three  children  are :  i,  William  Wallace,** 
b.  1885 ;  2,  Rose«  b.  1886,  and  3,  Benjamin  F.,  b.  1888. 

5.  Lawrence  Fairchild^  b.  1866;    d.  in  infancy. 

6.  Ellen^  b.  1867. 

7.  Emma^  b.  1870. 

8.  Charles  C.^  b.  1872. 

9.  Lewis  Henry^  b.  1874. 
10.     Jessie  Alice^  b.  1877. 

William  R.^  McElroy  (Samuel  R.,*  William  E.,^  Samuel,^ 
James^)  b.  at  Maxwell,  Ky.,  December  17,  1856.  His  parents 
having  moved  to  Western  Missouri,  his  early  academic  training 
was  in  the  High  School  at  Kansas  City,  and  also  at  Carthage,  Mo. 
Graduated  from  Drury  College,  Springfield,  1886.  Studied 
theology  tM^o  years  in  Union  Theological  Seminary,  New  York, 
and  one  year  at  McCormick  Seminary,  Chicago.  Ordained  by  the 
Presbytery  of  Platte,  at  Grant  City,  1889.  Pastor  at  Chillicothe, 
Mo.,  1889-1893.  Pastor  four  years  at  Cassopolis,  Mich.,  and 
now  for  almost  three  years  has  had  charge  of  the  church  at  West 


52  Scotch-Irish    McElroys 

Plains,  near  Kansas  City.    Married  November  3,  1892,  Miss  Mary 
E.  Black,  of  Chillicothe,  Mo. 

Children  of  Rev.  William  R.  and  Mary  E.  McElroy. 

1.  William  Rice^  b.  Cassopolis,  Mich.,  June  15,  1894. 

2.  James  Millenton^  b.  Cassopolis,  June  20,  1896. 

3.  Robert  OdiP  b.  West  Plains,  Mo.,  April  13,  1898. 

4.  Mary  Louise''  b.  West  Plains,  February  14,  1900. 

Samuel  G.  McElroy^  (Hervey,*  Samuel,^  Samuel,^  James^) 
m.  Ellen  Skiles,  of  Bowling  Green,  sister  of  Lucy  Ann,  who  m. 
John  McElroy.^  Three  daughters,  Josie,*'  Mattie*'  and  Lizzie," 
became  accomplished  and  prominent  teachers.  Henry''  and  Effie'^ 
are  younger  members  of  the  family. 


BIG  SPRING  (PA.)  Mcelroys 


About  the  year  1760  Hugh  McEIroy,  at  the  age  of  twenty-two, 
left  County  Down,  Ireland,  and  came  to  America,  to  Big  Spring, 
Cumberland  County,  Pa.,  near  Newville,  not  far  from  Carlisle. 
Two  younger  brothers  followed  him  in  later  years.  He  was  the 
writer's  grandfather,  and  special  effort  has  been  made  to  trace  our 
family  history  as  far  back  and  as  fully,  and  from  as  wide  sources 
as  possible. 

Tradition  has  it  that  "all  the  McElroys  of  County  Down"  are 
descended  from  three  brothers  who  came  from  Scotland  ''time  o' 
the  persecutions ;"  also  that  their  home  in  Scotland  had  been  "in 
the  region  of  Glasgow."  Their  names  were  doubtless  correctly 
given  as  John,  Hugh  and  James.  The  first  of  these,  John,  settled 
in  the  southern  part  of  the  county,  the  name  appearing  in  family 
traditions  reduced  to  writing  about  the  year  1850  by  the  late  Hon. 
John  Scott,  of  Philadelphia,  whose  ancestors  included  McElroys, 
one  of  whom  was  among  the  heroic  defenders  of  Londonderry 
in  1681. 

James  probably  lived  in  the  central  or  west  part  of  the  county. 
This,  however,  is  a  matter  of  conjecture  or  inference.  The  re- 
maining name,  Hugh,  appears  in  an  interesting  family  record 
which  we  secured  from  Joseph  K.^  McElroy,  of  Sigourney.  Iowa, 
whose  father,  Hugh*  McElroy,  was  a  banker  at  Sidney,  Ohio. 

HuGH^  McElroy,  from  Scotland,  came  to  County  Down,  Ire- 
land, at  a  date  not  precisely  known,  probably  about  1685,  and 
bought  a  tract  of  land  at  Kate's  Bridge,  in  the  Parish  of  Ballyna- 
hinch,  about  twenty  miles  south  of  Belfast.  He  had  at  least  three 
sons — possibly  several  more — and  as  to  daughters  we  are  not 
informed. 


54  Scotch-Irish    Mc  Elroys 

The  sons  were  John,-  Hugh,^  and  probably  Robert.-  Some  of 
Hugh's  descendants  still  reside  at  Kate's  Bridge  and  cultivate 
the  paternal  acres,  and  attend  the  old  Ballyroney  Presbyterian 
Church,  where,  in  the  churchyard  near  by,  four  or  five  genera- 
tions lie  buried. 


John  McElroy,*  of  Leitrim,  five  or  six  miles  north  of  Kate's 
Bridge,  a  very  aged  man,  is  a  grandson  of  Robert.  He  had  some 
seven  sisters,  one  of  whom,  Mary*  McElroy,  married  a  Mr.  Dick- 
son.   Rev.  William  Dickson,'^  D.  D.,  of  Canfield,  Ohio,  is  her  son. 

Another  descendant  of  Robert,  John^  by  name,  who  had  lived 
twelve  miles  from  Belfast,  in  County  Down,  came  to  Baltimore 
in  the  year  1819.  He  had  four  sons.  Of  these,  James*  continued 
to  reside  at  Baltimore.  Thomas*  came  to  Pittsburgh,  and  thence 
perhaps  to  St.  Louis.  Robert*  was  a  Covenanter  minister  and 
died  in  Virginia  before  the  war. 

John,*  the  remaining  son,  lived  in  Washington  County,  Pa., 
and  in  Armstrong  County,  Pa.  His  son,  David  W.'^  McElroy, 
is  a  prominent  citizen  and  business  man  in  Keokuk,  Iowa. 

Hugh  McElroy^  (son  of  the  Scotch  Hugh)  had  a  family,  but 
we  have  the  name  of  only  one  of  his  children,  viz,  Andrew,^  who 
lived  in  County  Down.  Two  of  Andrew's  sons  were  John,*  who 
lived  and  died  in  County  Down,  and  whose  son  Samuel,^  now  lives 
in  Philadelphia,  and  a  son  Richard^  and  family  now  occupy  the  old 
home  at  Kate's  Bridge ;  and  Hugh,*  who  came  to  America  about 
the  year  1818  and  settled  in  Pittsburgh,  Pa.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Associate  Reformed  Presbyterian  Church,  a  man  of  great 
energy  and  high  character.  He  engaged  in  the  enterprise  of 
shipping  flour  and  other  produce  to  New  Orleans  in  flat  boats 
on  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  rivers.  He  made  several  trips,  going 
with  his  boat  or  boats  in  person,  selling  out  his  produce  in  New 
Orleans,  and  then  returning  on  foot  to  Pittsburgh.  This  was  be- 
fore steam  navigation  commenced  on  those  rivers,  and  long  before 
the  time  of  railroads.  His  father,  Andrew,  came  to  America  in 
his  old  days,  and  closed  his  long  life  at  the  home  of  his  son. 


Big  spring  (Pa.)   M c Elroys  55 

In  later  years  Hugh  resided  in  Sidney,  Ohio,  and  was  there 
engaged  in  the  banking  business.  Two  sons  survived  their  father, 
one,  Joseph  K."  residing  in  Sigourney,  Iowa ;  the  other,  John 
Andrew,^  in  Kansas. 

Joseph  K.  informs  us  that  his  father  made  fifty-two  trips  be- 
tween Pittsburgh  and  Philadelphia,  crossing  the  Alleghany  moun- 
tains and  accomplishing  the  whole  journey  either  on  foot  or  in 
private  conveyance. 

John-  McElroy,  son  of  Hugh,^  who  came  from  Scotland, 
lived  and  died  in  County  Down.  Born  as  early,  perhaps,  as  1710, 
and  living  until  near  the  close  of  the  century.  He  was  married 
twice  and  was  the  father  of  three  sons  and  five  daughters,  viz, 
Hugh,3  John,3  Prudence'  (McKee),  Betsy^  (McKee),  Mary^' 
(Smith),  Ann^  (McKnight),  Joseph"  and  Jane^  (Grove). 

The  three  sons  all  came  to  America ;  Hugh,  as  we  have  seen, 
about  1760,  to  Big  Spring;  John  to  Big  Spring  about  1780,  and 
Joseph  to  Westmoreland  County,  Pa.,  in  1829. 

John  McElroy'  (John,-  Hugh^)  of  Big  Spring,  m.  Sarah 
Erwin,  of  Erwinston,  and  lived  at  Castle  Blaney  in  County 
Monaghan.  They  had  eight  children,  six  sons  and  two  daughters. 
They  came  to  America  and  to  Big  Spring  probably  about  1780. 
The  daughters  were  Mary*  and  Martha.*  William*  lived  and 
died  at  Chillicothe,  Ohio,  of  which  he  was  one  of  the  early  set- 
tlers and  founders.  John*  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812  and 
was  killed  by  the  bursting  of  a  cannon,  which  put  out  his  eyes. 
This  is  said  to  have  occurred  at  Quebec,  the  date  unknown. 
From  "Pennsylvania  Archives,"  Vol.  XII,  we  learn  that  John 
McElroy  was  Lieutenant  in  Capt.  William  Morris's  company, 
belonging  to  the  Militia  Regiment  commanded  by  Col.  Rees  Hill, 
in  service  May  5  to  November  5,  1813.  One  of  their  marches 
was  to  Erie,  Pa.  Hugh*  settled  in  Erie  County,  Pa.  He  married 
and  had  a  family.  His  wife's  name  was  Margaret,  but  we  have 
no  information  as  to  his  descendants. 


r6  Scotch-Irish    M c  Elroys 

Abram*  McElroy,  fifth  son  of  John,^  of  Big  Spring,  was  a 
tanner  and  lived  at  Mansfield,  Ohio.  He  was  an  exemplary  mem- 
ber of  the  Associate  Reformed  Presbyterian  Church.  He  m. 
Jemima  Wilkerson.  Their  son  Frank^  spent  some  time  in  Cali- 
fornia about  1850,  and  was  living  in  Muscatine,  Iowa,  some  years 
later.     Their  daughter,  Jemima,^  m.  a  Mr.  Holmes. 

James  Erwin*  McElroy,  b.  August  2,  1781,  was  probably  the 
oldest  son  of  John,^  of  Big  Spring.  He  was  m.  near  Pittsburgh, 
by  Rev.  William  Wilson,  of  the  Associate  Reformed  Church, 
November  14,  1805,  to  Isabella  Malvina  Glenn,  and  lived  at  Mid- 
dlefield,  Geauga  County,  Ohio.  He  was  a  farmer,  and  in  the 
war  of  1812  was  in  army  service  as  a  teamster,  and  contracted 
disease  in  the  service  at  Lundy's  Lane,  of  which  he  d.  in  1826. 
The  widow  was  left  with  a  family  of  nine  children,  the  oldest  only 
sixteen  years  of  age,  on  a  farm  but  partially  improved  and  not 
fully  paid  for.  With  energy  and  wise  management  she  brought 
up  all  her  children,  with  fair  education,  to  respectable  manhood 
and  womanhood,  and  lived  to  see  her  eighty-sixth  year.  She  was 
b.  August  26,  1782.    Their  children,  nine  in  number,  were: 

1.  John^  McElroy  b.  August  20,  1806.    Had  eight  children. 

2.  Mary^  b.  March  26,  1808;   m.  Silas  Evans,  and  had  ten 

children. 

3.  Sarah^  b.   March  20,    1810;    m.  William   Glendenning. 

Large  family. 

4.  Meander^  b.  January  9,  1812;   m.  Lorenzo  Rider.     Two 

of  their  daughters  were  well  known  in  New  York  City 
some  years  since.  One  was  the  second  wife  of  "Brick'' 
Pomeroy ;  the  other  m.  a  Mr.  Goodyear,  connected 
with  the  India  rubber  trade. 

5.  Glenn  Wallace^  McElroy,  whose  residence  in  late  years 

was  at  Vassar,  Tuscola  County,  ]\Iich.,  was  b.  April 
16,  1814. 

6.  Martha  Isabella^  m.  William  S.  Rider.     They  had  six 

children.     The  eldest,   Erwin  Lorenzo,*'   a   soldier  in 


Big  Spring  (P a.)   M c Elroys  57 

Company  E,  Sixteenth  Wisconsin,  was  killed  April  6, 
1862,  in  the  battle  of  Shiloh.  The  father  d.  in  1884. 
Their  living  children  are  Mrs.  Ellen  M.  Gray®  and 
Clinton  O.  Rider,®  Ira,  Iowa;  Cyrus  W.  Rider,® 
Harrisburg,  Neb. ;  Mrs.  Myra  Brown,®  Des  Moines, 
Iowa,  and  Mrs.  Mary  C.  Parker,®  Newton,  Iowa. 
Mother  Rider  has  been  a  widow  for  six  years  past.  She 
is  in  her  eighty-fifth  year,  and  is  now  (in  1900)  the 
only  survivor  in  her  father's  family,  residing  with  her 
daughter,  Mrs.  Gray,  at  Ira,  Jasper  County,  Iowa. 

7.  Lydia^  b.  May  26,  1818;  m.  Charles  Trunkee.    They  had 

six  children. 

8.  James  E.  McElroy^  b.  April  22,  1820;   m.  December  24, 

1840,  near  Economy,  Beaver  County,  Pa.,  Margaret 
Jordan.  He  d.  June  9,  1863.  His  wife  d.  July  27, 
1873.  Their  home  was  in  Muscatine  County,  Iowa. 
They  had  five  children : 

(i)  Isabella  M.®  b.  1842;  m.  C.  V.  Van  Epps.  They  reside 
at  Sheldon,  Iowa,  and  have  two  children,  Mrs.  Mary  Gifford  and 
Erwin. 

(2)  Celia  E.®  b.  1844;  m.  E.  A.  Albee.  They  live  at  Pleasant 
Prairie,  Iowa,  and  have  five  children :  Margaret  M.,^  Marcia,'^ 
Gustavus,^  Erwin  E.'  and  Irene  C.' 

(3)  William  J.  McElroy®  b.  May  25,  1847;  m.  Mary  J.  Hall. 
They  live  at  Pleasant  Prairie,  and  have  three  children :  Isaac 
Erwin,^  Glenn  EarH  and  Pearl.' 

(4)  Irene  Meander®  b.  November  8,  1850;  m.  D.  S.  Brown. 
They  live  in  Dexter,  Dallas  County,  Iowa.  Their  children  are 
Clarence  J.,^  Gertrude  P."  and  Nellie.'^ 

(5)  James  E.  McElroy®  b.  September  20,  1853;  "i-  Effie 
Johnson.  They  reside  in  Muscatine.  They  have  three  children : 
Orrie  ].,'  William  Edward^  and  Ethel  J.  M.^ 

9.  The  ninth  and  youngest  of  the  family  of  James  Erwin 

McElroy,*  of  Geauga  County,  Ohio,  was. 


eg  Scotch-Irish    McElroys 

William  Montgomery^  McElroy  (James  Erwin,*  John,^ 
John,^  Hugli^)  b.  in  Geauga  County,  Ohio,  July  24,  1823.  Being 
left  fatherless  at  three  year«  of  age,  he  went,  while  yet  a  boy,  to 
live  with  his  brother  Glenn,  in  Oswego,  N.  Y.,  with  whom  he 
learned  the  tailor  trade.  Afterward  he  engaged  in  mercantile 
business,  stopping  for  a  time  in  New  York  City,  and  later  resid- 
ing in  Wisconsin,  and  at  length  locating  in  Muscatine  County, 
Iowa,  near  his  brother  James. ^  His  tastes  and  opportunities  led 
him  into  the  teacher's  avocation,  and  in  this  calling  he  labored 
successfully  to  the  close  of  life,  which  occurred  February  28, 
1868,  at  the  early  age  of  forty-five. 

William  McElroy^  was  a  man  "o'  pairts."  He  had  a  pro- 
digious memory,  being  able  to  recite  in  full  both  "Marmion"  and 
''The  Lady  of  the  Lake."  He  had  a  wide  acquaintance  with  litera- 
ture, with  fine  appreciation  of  the  beauties  of  poetry.  He  made 
some  use  of  the  pen,  and  his  contributions  to  the  local  press  were 
many  and  not  without  merit.  He  was  a  man  of  character,  and 
held  in  the  highest  esteem  by  all  who  knew  him. 

His  wife,  to  whom  he  was  m.  March  22,  1848,  was  Helen  Mar 
Parsons,  daughter  of  Fortius  Farsons,  of  Oswego,  N.  Y.,  and  the 
seventh  in  direct  descent  from  "Cornet"  Farsons,  who  sailed  for 
Boston  from  Gravesend,  England,  July  4,  1635,  and  from  whom 
the  New  Englanders  of  that  name  are  largely  descended.  Mrs. 
McElroy  was  b.  August  3,  1823,  and  now,  at  the  age  of  yy,  enjoys 
fair  health,  residing  with  her  daughters,  Hattie*'  and  Alice,""'  in 
Kansas  City,  Mo. 

Children  of  William  Montgomery^  McElroy. 

Charles  Murray*'  McElroy. 

Addie." 

William^  who  d.  in  infancy. 

Mrs.  Nellie    McElroy®   Farmer,   deceased,  who    left    three 

children — Lawrence,'''  Helen^  and  Margaret.'^ 
Miss  Hattie  Farsons  McElroy.*' 
Miss  Alice  Matilda  McElroy." 


William    AIontgomery''    McElroy,    1823-1868 

The   Baby,  b.    1852,  named   Charles  ^Murray''  !McElroy 


Big  S^pring   (Pa.)   M c Elroys  59 

Charles  Murray  McElroy"  (William  Montgomery,^  James 
Erwin/  John,^  John,^  Hugh^)  great-grandson  of  John  McElroy,^ 
of  Big  Spring,  was  b.  in  Oswego,  N.  Y.,  February  i,  1852,  and 
came  with  the  family  to  Iowa  in  1858.  Ten  years  later,  at  the 
age  of  sixteen,  the  death  of  his  father  devolved  upon  him  the 
responsibility  of  caring  for  his  widowed  mother  and  her  children. 
He  entered  the  school  of  journalism,  learning  the  printer's  trade 
in  Muscatine.  He  was  employed  on  the  Register  in  Des  Moines, 
was  later  a  reporter  on  the  Des  Moines  Leader,  and  still  later 
one  of  the  proprietors  of  the  Indianola  Tribune.  In  1879  he  pur- 
chased the  Tribune  at  Fairfield,  Iowa,  and  remained  its  publisher 
for  over  twenty  years.  He  served  as  postmaster  during  the  first 
term  of  President  Cleveland,  and  was  for  many  years  a  member 
of  the  city  school  board,  and  also  a  trustee  of  the  free  public 
library. 

He  is  a  man  of  recognized  ability,  of  high  character,  and  enjoys 
the  confidence  and  esteem  of  the  whole  community.  He  was  m. 
September  2,  1885,  to  Alice  Rebecca  Pollock,  of  Plattsmouth, 
Neb.     Their  children  are  : 

Hugh  Murray. 

Thomas  Pollock. 

Helen  Louise. 

Mary  Kerr. 

Florence  Palm. 

Virginia. 

Charles  Parsons  (deceased). 

Robert  Hamilton. 

The  sixth  and  youngest  son  of  John^  McElroy,  of  Big  Spring, 
was  Joseph,*  who  lived  and  died  in  New  York  City.  No  one  in 
our  immediate  connection,  and  very  few  bearing  the  McElroy 
name,  have  been  so  widely  known  as  the  New  York  pastor. 

Rev.  Joseph*  McElroy,  D.  D.  (John,=^  John,^  Hugh^)  was 
b.  in  Cumberland  County,  Pa.,  near  Big  Spring.  Decem- 
ber   29,   1792.      After    the    death    of      his    father    the    widow 


6o  Scotch-Irish    M c Elroys 

and  children  removed  to  Western  Pennsylvania  while  Joseph 
was  yet  a  boy,  perhaps  fourteen  years  of  age.  The 
first  time  he  ever  saw  Pittsburgh  was  in  1807,  when  he  entered  it, 
a  boy  of  fifteen,  driving  a  five  horse  team  which  he  had  driven 
from  Baltimore.  He  graduated  from  Jefferson  College  at  Canons- 
burg,  Pa.,  in  18 12,  and  studied  theology  in  New  York  under  Rev. 
John  M.  IMason,  D.  D.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  by 
the  Associate  Reformed  Presbytery  of  Pittsburgh  in  1814.  He 
was  pastor  for  eight  years  of  the  First  Associate  Reformed  Pres- 
byterian Church  of  Pittsburgh.  In  1822  he  accepted  a  call  to 
New  York  to  become  the  successor  of  Dr.  Mason,  as  pastor  of  the 
Scotch  Presbyterian  Church.  There  he  fulfilled  a  pastorate  of 
more  than  fifty  years,  closing  with  his  death,  which  occurred 
at  the  age  of  eighty-four,  September  16,  1876. 

He  was  tall,  of  commanding  presence,  and  spoke  with  great 
clearness  and  power.  He  had  a  large  library  and  was  a  thorough 
student,  yet,  during  most  of  the  years  of  his  long  ministry  he  made 
but  little  use  of  the  pen,  his  discourses  being  delivered  without 
notes.  Until  late  in  life  there  was  but  little  change  in  his  mode 
of  conducting  public  worship;  the  usages  that  had  prevailed  in 
the  Associate  Reformed  Church  were  for  the  most  part  retained. 
There  was  no  instrumental  music,  the  service  of  song  being  led 
by  a  precentor.  On  communion  occasions  the  participants  were 
served  at  tables  in  the  aisles.  He  was  a  diligent  and  wise  pastor, 
enjoying  in  a  remarkable  degree  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  his 
people.  Robert  Carter,  the  publisher,  was  one  of  his  valued  elders 
and  a  life-long  friend. 

Dr.  McElroy  was  m.  four  times.  His  first  wife  was  Miss  Mary 
Allison,  of  Beaver,  Pa.  His  second  wife  was  Mrs.  Marianne  Fox 
Poyntelle,  a  sister  of  Hon.  Robert  J.  Walker.  His  third  wife  was 
Miss  Sarah  McLanahan,  and  his  fourth  wife,  a  most  excellent 
lady,  was  Mrs.  Rebecca  D.  Jaflfray,  of  New  York,  her  maiden 
name  having  been  Dexter. 

Only  two  of  Dr.  McElroy's  children  survived  their  father. 
To  a  friend  he  said  in  1869,  at  the  age  of  yy,  "I  have  followed 
nineteen  funerals  out  of  mv  house." 


Rev.  Joseph  McElrov,  D.  D. 

At  33,   179::  —  1876 

Mrs.  Mary  McElroy-Moir 
At   16,   1825  —  1896 


Mr.s.  Marianne  Fox  McElroy 

At  30.    1796  —  1836 

Mr.  James  Moir 

At  25,    1817  —  1899 


Big  S^pring   (Pa.)   McElroys  6i 

A  promising  son,  Mason  Knox°  McElroy,  died  in  early  man- 
hood. 

An  older  son,  Robert  Duncan^  McElroy,  b.  in  1831,  enlisted 
in  the  Fourth  New  York  Heavy  Artillery,  and  at  Gettysburg  lost 
a  limb,  which  retired  him  from  the  service,  and  from  the  effects 
of  which  he  never  fully  recovered.  He  d.  at  his  residence  in  Mor- 
ristown,  N.  J.,  of  typhoid  pneumonia,  February  11,  1869.  His 
wife,  Caroline  Charlotte  Lee,  daughter  of  Thomas  Rankin  Lee, 
of  Croton  Falls,  d.  November  6,  1869,  leaving  four  children. 

1.  Mamie®  wife  of  Frank  Chase,  Randolph,  N.  H. 

2.  Carrie®  who  m.  Mr.  Willis  Benner,  attorney,  of  New 

York  City,  d.  in  1889,  leaving  two  sons,  Roger  and 
Hildreth. 

3.  Miss  Nannie  McElroy,®  who  resides  in  New  York  City. 

4.  Mason  K.  McElroy,®  a  resident,  since  1880,  of  St.  Paul, 

Minn.  He  is  m.  and  has  one  child,  Caroline  Charlotte," 
named  for  her  grandmother. 

Dr.  McElroy's  daughter  Josephine^  m.  Hugh  Maxwell,  of  New 
York.  She  survived  her  father,  but  has  since,  with  her  two 
children,  passed  to  the  other  shore. 

His  daughter  Mary^  became  the  wife  of  James  Moir,  a  success- 
ful merchant  in  New  York.  In  the  late  evening  of  life,  after  the 
death  of  his  last  wife.  Dr.  McElroy  enjoyed  the  affectionate  care 
and  attention  of  this  daughter  and  her  excellent  husband. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moir,  who  were  married  in  1845,  celebrated  their 
golden  wedding  June  3,  1895.  Both  have  since  passed  away,  Mrs. 
Moir  on  March  14,  1896,  and  her  husband  December  7,  1899. 

Four  children  of  the  Moir  family  survive  their  parents. 

1.  Josephine,®  who  married  Henry  T.  Lee,  a  young  lawyer 

in  New  York.  Their  residence  is  in  Los  Angeles,  Cal., 
where  they  have  a  good  home  and  a  lovely  family. 
Their  three  children  are:  Thomas  Rathbone,^  Mary^ 
and  Margaret.'^ 

2.  Joseph  McElroy®  Moir  is  a  farmer,  residing  at  Bloom- 

ington,  Minn.     He  married  Agnes  Pond,  daughter  of 


62  Scotch-Irish    McElroys 

one  of  the  early  missionaries  to  the  Indians  in  Min- 
nesota, a  niece  of  the  late  Judge  McDill,  of  Iowa,  and 
great-granddaughter  of  Rev.  R.  G.  Wilson,  D.  D.,  of 
Ohio.  They  have  eight  children :  Marian  Walker,'^ 
Agnes  Pond,'^  James,^  Joseph  McElroy,^  William  Wil- 
merding,'^  Dougal  Stuart,^  Arthur  Duncan,"  and 
John."^ 

3.  Rev.  William  Wilmerding  Moir,^  Assistant  Rector  of 

the  Church  of  the  Holy  Communion,  New  York  City. 

4.  Arthur  Duncan  Moir,^  engaged  in  business  in  New  York. 

His  wife  was  Laura  Merriam  Russell. 

Dr.  McElroy  had  two  sisters,  Mary*  and  Martha.*  Mary 
McElroy  m.  Adam  Hawthorn  and  later  m.  John  Oxer.  She  had 
two  sons,  Abram^  and  Joseph**  Oxer,  and,  perhaps,  other  children. 
She  died  in  1838,  at  Farmington,  Trumball  County,  Ohio. 

Martha  was  also  m.  twice.  Her  first  husband  was  John  Walker, 
and  her  second  husband  was  James  Walker.  After  her  second 
marriage  she  removed  to  Ohio,  where  she  d.  not  far  from  Zanes- 
ville. 

Mrs.  Marianne  Fox  McElroy,  second  wife  of  Dr.  Joseph 
McElroy,  was  a  lady  whose  ancestry  embraced  distinguished  peo- 
ple on  both  sides  of  the  Atlantic.  Her  father,  Jonathan  Hoge 
Walker,  was  Judge  of  the  Court  for  the  Western  District  of 
Pennsylvania,  appointed  by  President  Madison.  Her  mother  was 
the  daughter  of  Judge  Duncan,  also  of  Pennsylvania.  Her 
brother,  Robert  J.  Walker,  was  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  under 
President  Polk.  She  was  a  lineal  descendant,  through  Charles 
James  Fox-Lord  Holland,  and  the  Dukes  of  Richmond,  of  the 
Royal  House  of  the  Stuarts,  Charles  II,  Charles  I,  James  I  and 
Mary  Queen  of  Scots. 

Mrs.  McElroy  was  a  woman  of  personal  worth  and  rare  beauty, 
and  of  gifts  and  graces  befitting  her  station  and  lineage. 

Joseph*  (John,"  Hugh^)  youngest  son  of  John,^  of  County 
Down,  came  to  America  in  1829.    He  was  the  son  of  his  father's 


Big  S^pring  (Pa.)   Mc Elroys  63 

old  age,  and  for  that  reason,  according  to  a  rule  widely  prevalent 
among  the  Scotch-Irish  patriarchs,  received  the  name  Joseph. 
The  date  of  his  birth  we  are  unable  to  state,  although  it  must  have 
been  not  far  from  1776.  His  two  older  brothers  had  d.  in  America 
and  their  families  were  scattered  before  his  arrival.  His  wiie 
and  two  daughters  d.  of  ship  fever  and  were  buried  at  Baltimore. 
He  settled  in  Westmoreland  County,  Pa.,  near  the  Kiskiminetas, 
a  branch  of  the  Allegheny  river,  about  twenty-five  miles  from 
Pittsburgh. 

He  and  family  were  Covenanters,  belonging  in  Ireland  to  Fair- 
view  congregation,  and  in  their  new  home,  members  of  Brook- 
land  Church.  He  m.  a  second  wife,  Miss  Jane  McKee,  in  1838. 
The  maiden  name  of  his  first  wife  was  Jane  Grey.  After  his 
second  marriage  he  removed  to  Mercer  County,  Pa.,  was  con- 
nected with  the  Springfield  Covenanter  (or  Reformed  Presby- 
terian) Church,  and  d.  in  the  fall  of  1851. 

Joseph  McElroy^  was  the  father  of  ten  children,  including  two 
daughters,  who  were  buried  in  Baltimore. 

Jane*  (Garrett). 

John.* 

David.* 

Isabella*  (Nixon). 

Hugh.* 

All  these  lived  in  Westmoreland  County  and  were  members 
of  Brookland  congregation. 

Joseph  the  Covenanter. 

By  his  second  marriage  he  had  three  children,  viz : 
Joseph.*  who  resides  at  Quinter,  Kansas. 
Jane,*  who  lives  in  Mercer  County,  Pa. 
James  Renwick,*  named  for  the  last  of  the  Scotch  martyrs, 
and  who  d.  in  1883. 
These  Covenanter  friends,  by  their  sterling  Christian  character, 
and  by  the  intelligence  and  firmness  with  which  they  maintained 
their  own  peculiar  tenets  and  usages,  secured  and  held  the  respect 


64  Scotch-Irish    McElroys 

and  confidence  of  all  who  knew  them.  To  show  the  kind  of  stuff 
they  were  made  of,  it  may  be  mentioned  that  in  1833  Joseph 
McElroy,  being  then  a  Ruling  Elder  in  the  Brookland  Church, 
was  commissioned  as  a  delegate  to  the  Reformed  Presbyterian 
Synod  meeting  in  Philadelphia.  The  place  was  300  miles  away. 
The  mountains  lay  between.  The  voice  of  the  locomotive  had  not 
yet  been  heard  through  those  mountains  and  valleys  and  hills. 
The  season  for  plowing  and  planting  and  cultivating  was  at  hand. 
The  three  boys  could  be  trusted  to  do  the  farm  work,  but  their 
limited  force  in  the  way  of  teams  was  absolutely  essential.  So  the 
head  of  the  family,  staff  in  hand,  set  out  to  fulfill  his  mission.  On 
foot  he  traveled  300  miles  and  attended  synod,  and  then,  in  the 
same  way,  with  a  light  heart  and  a  good  conscience,  he  walked 
back,  300  miles,  to  his  Westmoreland  home. 

In  1862  the  writer  had  an  opportunity  of  visiting  those  people. 
They  were  plain,  hospitable,  well-to-do  farmers,  and  the  memory 
of  that  visit  abides  with  me  as  something  very  pleasant  to  recall. 
Most  of  the  elderly  friends  I  met  have  since  passed  away,  but 
their  descendants,  somewhat  scattered,  are  still  in  that  region, 
maintaining  the  principles  and  illustrating  the  virtues  of  their 
ancestors. 

We  now  revert  to 

HuGH^  McElroy  (John.-  Hugh^)  to  whom  John  and  Joseph 
were  younger  brothers.  My  grandfather  Hugh,  was  m.,  at  Big 
Spring,  about  the  year  1783,  to  Ann  Scroggs,  a  native  of  Scot- 
land. Her  father  was  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  and  one  of  the 
original  members  of  the  Seceder  (or  Associate  Presbyterian) 
Church  of  Big  Spring.  Father  Scroggs  had  a  snug  family  of 
twenty-one  sons  and  daughters,  the  result  of  two  marriages.  His 
descendants  are  very  numerous,  amounting  probably  to  thousands. 
The  late  Rev.  Elijah  Scroggs,  of  Beaver  County,  Pa.,  was  his 
youngest  son.  The  late  Rev.  Joseph  Scroggs,  D.  D..  of  Ligonier, 
Pa.,  was  a  grandson. 

Hugh  and  Ann  McElroy  resided  most  of  their  days  in  Mifflin 
County,  now  Juniata  County,  Pa.,  at  first  in  Lost  Creek  valley  and 


Big  S^pring  (Pa.)   Mc Elroys  65 

later,  and  until  the  close  of  life,  near  the  village  of  Mexico  on 
the  Juniata. 

The  names  of  their  first  two  children  exemplify  a  rule  widely 
prevalent  among  the  patriarchs  of  their  day.  The  first  child  in 
the  family  must  be  named  for  the  mother's  people,  usually  for 
her  father  or  mother.  The  second  child  must  be  named  for  the 
father's  people,  usually  for  his  mother  or  father ;  the  third  child 
for  the  mother's  people,  and  so  on  alternately. 

Hugh's  first  child,  a  son,  was  called  Alexander,  for  his  grand- 
father, Alexander  Scroggs.  The  second,  a  daughter,  was  called 
Prudence.  Hugh  had  a  sister  of  that  name,  and  it  is  likely  that 
His  mothor  was  Prudence.  They  had  a  daughter  Ann  who  d.  un- 
married about  1840,  some  50  years  of  age.  Two  sons,  Hugh  and 
John,  and  two  daughters  d.  young  and  unmarried. 

Their  youngest  son  was  called  for  the  Scotch  Divine,  Ebenezer 
Erskine. 


Uncle  Alexander*  (Hugh,^  John,^  Hugh^)  was  born  March 
6,  1784.  Like  his  father  and  brothers,  he  was  a  farmer.  Like 
them  he  was  thoroughly  instructed  in  the  Bible,  the  Catechisms, 
and  the  Confession  of  Faith.  There  were  no  Sabbath  schools  and 
no  religious  papers  in  those  days,  but  the  instructions  of  the  pulpit 
and  of  the  home  were  effective,  and  the  printed  sermons  of  the 
Erskines,  with  a  few  other  religious  books,  had  their  influence. 
After  his  father's  death  he  had  occasion  to  give  a  good  deal  of 
attention  to  financial  and  business  matters,  and  developed  a  talent 
for  finance  which  staid  with  him  all  his  life.  He  was  never  mar- 
ried. He  lived  plainly  and  frugally  and  left  an  estate  of  about 
$30,000  as  a  fund  for  the  publication  and  sale  or  distribution  of 
Bibles,  known  as  "The  McElroy  Fund"  of  the  United  Presby- 
terian Church.  Every  copy  of  the  Scriptures  so  published  must 
contain  also  the  Psalms  in  metre  as  used  in  the  United  Presby- 
terian Church.  To  a  Covenanter  church  in  Washington  County, 
Pa.,  he  made  a  donation,  a  number  of  years  before  his  death,  of 
about  $2,000,  the  interest  of  the  money  to  go  to  the  support  of 


66  Scotch-Irish    Mc Elroys 

the  pastor.  He  was  well  informed  on  matters  Biblical  and  theo- 
logical, and  adhered  very  rigidly  in  belief  and  practice  to  the 
views  and  doctrines  generally  prevalent  among  Seceders  and 
Covenanters.  During  his  later  years  he  resided  in  what  was  then 
called  the  west ;  at  Cannonsburgh,  in  Washington  County,  Pa., 
in  Harrison  County,  Ohio,  and  in  Wheeling,  Va.  After  i860  he 
lived  among  the  McElroy  relatives  in  Westmoreland  County. 
During  the  late  evening  and  decline  of  life  he  enjoyed  the  kind 
care  and  hospitality  of  his  cousin,  Hugh*  McElroy,  under  whose 
roof  and  in  the  midst  of  whose  family  he  d.  in  1876,  in  his  ninety- 
third  year.  His  remains  are  interred  near  the  Brookland 
Covenanter  Church. 


Aunt  Prudy  McElroy*  m.  Robert  Robinson,  and  after  the 
death  of  her  parents  occupied  and  owned  the  old  McElroy  home 
near  Mexico.  They  had  two  children,  daughters, — Prudence,^ 
who  m.  William  Hart,  and  Levinia,^  who  m.  Henry  Harrison 
Rodgers.  They  were  all  members  of  the  "Fermanagh"  Associate 
Reformed  Church,  of  which  Grandfather  McElroy  had  b^en  a 
charter  member  and  chief  supporter.  In  185 1  the  writer  spent 
a  college  vacation  among  those  Juniata  friends.  My  birthplace 
and  the  residence  of  our  family  was  in  Southwestern  Ohio,  and 
this  was  the  first  time  that  I  ever  met  any  of  those  Pennsylvania 
kinfolks.  I  found  ]\Irs.  Hart,^  with  her  four  children,  occupy- 
ing the  old  McElroy  home,  her  husband  having  d.  a  year  or  two 
earlier,  and  her  mother,  Aunt  Prudy,  having  also  passed  away 
still  earlier.  Their  place  of  worship  was  in  their  new  brick  church 
in  the  village  of  Mexico.  The  old  church  building,  three  miles 
away,  then  lately  vacated,  was  an  object  of  peculiar  interest.  It 
was  probably  the  second  house  built  on  the  same  site.  It  was  of 
hewed  logs,  of  shingle  roof,  and  of  fair  size.  The  pews  were  of 
the  very  high  kind.  The  high  pulpit  was  surmounted  by  what 
was  called  a  "sounding  board."  The  seat  for  the  Precentor  or 
Clerk  was  just  in  front  of  the  pulpit  facing  the  audience.  No 
hymns  had  ever  been  sung  in  that  house,  but  solely  and  only  the 


Big  Spring  (Pa.)  McElroys  67 

Psalms  in  Rouse's  version.  Continuous  singing  had  not  been  the 
practice,  but  the  Precentor  would  "give  out"  two  lines  of  the 
Psalm,  then  start  the  tune  and  lead  the  song;  then  give  out  two 
lines  more  and  so  on  to  the  end  of  the  Psalm. 

No  pipe  organ,  no  "cornet,  flute,  harp,  sackbut,  psaltery,  dulci- 
mer" or  other  Babylonish  instrument  had  ever  lifted  up  voice 
there. 

And  here  at  the  minister's  left  hand,  the  second  pew  is  the  one 
that  belonged  to  grandfather.  An  aged  lady  remembered  him 
very  distinctly.  She  spoke  of  him  as  a  very  grave  man.  All  those 
fathers  were  grave  and  thoughtful  when  in  the  house  of  God. 
He  used  to  sit  with  closed  eyes,  lest  something  earthly  and  visible 
might  distract  his  attention  from  the  divine  message.  Outside, 
a  few  steps  from  the  building,  are  the  graves  of  Hugh  and  Ann 
McElroy. 

Southward,  two  or  three  miles  distant,  you  may  see  the  wind- 
ings of  "The  Blue  Juniata,"  and  hear  the  screaming  locomotive 
on  the  Pennsylvania  railroad,  and  beyond  are  the  Tuscarora  val- 
ley and  Tuscarora  mountain. 

Mrs.  Hart  sold  out  some  years  later  and  removed  to  Wooster, 
Ohio,  where  she  died  a  few  years  since.  Her  older  daughter, 
Mrs.  Levinia  Cummin,®  a  widow,  resides  in  Marion,  Ohio,  having 
one  daughter.  Miss  Winifred.^  The  older  son,  Robert  S.  Hart,® 
is  in  business  at  Avoca,  Iowa.  The  younger  daughter.  Miss 
Mary  Hart,®  resides  in  Wooster,  Ohio,  and  the  younger  son.  Dr. 
Hugh  Hart,®  is  at  Wooster.  He  practised  medicine  for  some 
years  in  New  York  City.  He  was  Surgeon-General  of  Ohio 
under  the  recent  administration  of  Governor  Campbell. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harrison  Rodgers  d.  in  Pennsylvania  many 
years  ago.  Three  of  their  four  sons  were  Union  soldiers  in  our 
late  civil  war.  One  of  these,  Matthew,®  having  passed  unscathed 
through  forty-nine  battles  and  skirmishes,  d.  soon  after  the 
war,  from  a  very  unusual  cause — the  bite  of  a  vicious  horse.  One 
of  the  sons,  William,®  lives  in  Mifflin,  near  his  birthplace,  a  highly 
respected  and  active  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.     The 


68  Scotch-Irish    McElroys 

only  daughter,  Ann  Eliza,"  has  resided  for  many  years  in  Lincoln, 
Neb.,  the  wife  of  Charles  Griffith,  a  prominent  citizen. 

Grandmother  Ann  Scroggs  McElroy  d.  in  1811,  at  the  age  of 
sixty-eight  years.  Grandfather  Hugh  McElroy  d.  March  2,  1813, 
aged  seventy-five  years  and  two  weeks. 

Ebenezer  Erskine  McElroy*  (Hugh,^  John,-  Hugh^)  the 
writer's  father,  youngest  son  of  Hugh,  was  b.  in  Mifflin  County, 
Pa.,  December  22,  1791.  He  was  m.  April  13,  1813,  in  his  twenty- 
second  year.  Rev.  Thomas  Smith,  officiating,  to  Sarah  Ghormley, 
eldest  daughter  of  Thomas  Ghormley,  who  lived  near  Mexico, 
and  was  a  member,  perhaps  an  elder,  in  the  Fermanagh  Church. 

The  same  spring  my  parents,  in  company  with  Grandfather 
Ghormley  and  family,  came  west.  They  traveled  in  wagons  by 
way  of  The  Burnt  Cabins,  Bedford  and  Washington,  Pa.,  and  by 
way  of  Wheeling  and  Zanesville  to  Chillicothe,  Ohio. 

Here  they  stopped  for  a  year  or  two,  father  and  Uncle  David 
Ghormley  being  engaged  as  army  teamsters  hauling  goods  from 
Portsmouth  to  Columbus.  Soon  after  the  war  closed  father 
removed  to  Fayette  County,  twenty-five  miles  west,  where  he  had 
bought  a  tract  of  500  acres  of  land  and  where  he  entered  upon 
the  work  of  making  a  home  "in  the  woods."  The  place  was  on 
the  west  side  of  Paint  Creek,  four  miles  north  of  Greenfield  (in 
Highland  County)  and  three  miles  west  of  Grandfather  Ghorm- 
ley's  place.  This  proved  to  be  his  home  for  life  and  the  birth- 
place of  all  his  children. 

My  recollections  go  back  to  a  period  about  twenty  years  after 
his  settlement  there.  There  were  about  fifty  acres  of  cleared  land 
under  cultivation,  with  a  good  hewed  log  house  and  a  large  barn. 
The  orchard  was  just  beginning  to  bear,  and  it  would  have  the 
reputation  in  coming  years  of  being  the  best  orchard  in  Southern 
Ohio.  The  farm  was  well  stocked.  A  half  hundred  maple  trees 
furnished  sugar  and  syrup  for  the  year  round.  Flax  and  wool 
were  produced  sufficient  for  wheel  and  reel  and  loom  and  cloth- 
ing.    The  spring  furnished  abundance  of  clear  cool  water.     The 


Big  spring   (Pa.)   McEiroys  69 

lambs  skipped  merrily  over  the  knolls  and  through  the  pasture. 
The  mulberry  tree  at  the  end  of  the  lane  was  an  object  of  great 
interest  to  the  squirrels  and  the  boys.  The  pewit's  nest  under  the 
eave  right  up  over  our  front  window  interested  me  greatly,  but 
I  never  could  get  to  see  into  it.  On  the  corner  of  our  farm,  a 
half  mile  distant,  was  the  schoolhouse,  where  a  three  months' 
school  was  "kept"  each  winter.  Our  place  was  surrounded  in 
every  direction  by  the  unbroken  forest,  but  through  the  trees  in 
the  early  morning,  from  the  south,  we  often  heard  the  crowing 
chanticleer  sounding  the  signal,  from  Mr.  Smith's  barn,  of  the 
new  day.  Squirrels  in  the  timber  were  very  plentiful.  The  wild 
deer  were  often  seen  passing  by,  and  wild  turkeys  would  some- 
times invade  the  cornfield,  fifty  in  a  flock. 

Last,  but  not  least  important,  the  stone  church  at  the  village  of 
Greenfield  had  much  to  do  with  family  arrangements  and  joys 
and  hopes. 

My  parents  were  among  its  charter  members  in  1820,  organiz- 
ing the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Greenfield.  The  pastor.  Rev. 
Samuel  Crothers,  would  spend  his  entire  ministerial  life  there, 
and  be  succeeded  in  later  years  by  his  son,  bearing  the  same  name. 
Now  as  these  lines  are  penned,  in  the  year  A.  D.  1900,  those  twp 
pastorates,  the  latter  still  continuing,  have  occupied  a  space  of 
seventy-three  years,  or  including  ten  years  during  which  the  elder 
Dr.  Crothers  had  been  pastor  of  the  Associate  Reformed  Church 
at  Greenfield,  eighty-three  years. 

In  the  McElroy  family,  church  attendance  was  a  matter  of 
course  and  also  of  privilege.  We  went  on  horseback.  Each  fam- 
ily occupied  their  own  pew.  Two  sermons,  each  an  hour  in  length, 
with  a  half  hour  interval  between,  together  with  eight  miles  of 
slow  travel,  occupied  most  of  the  day. 

The  children  were  baptized  by  the  old  pastor,  most  of  them 
were  married  by  him,  and  all  became  communicants  in  the  church. 

My  parents  were  faithful  and  exemplary  Christians,  maintain- 
ing family  worship  morning  and  evening,  with  Scripture  reading, 
singing  and  prayer. 


yo  Scotch-Irish    M c  Elroys 

Ebenezer  McElroy  was  an  intelligent  and  successful  farmer, 
and  his  grain  and  apples,  and  dressed  porkers  brought  the  high- 
est market  price. 

He  was  a  man  above  medium  height,  well  proportioned,  rather 
swarthy  in  complexion,  with  very  dark  hair,  inclining  to  curl. 
He  had  something  of  the  grave  aspect  and  reticence  characteristic 
of  the  Scotch,  while  my  mother  was  of  fair  complexion,  with 
light  brown  hair,  with  a  vivacity  and  an  appreciation  of  the 
ludicrous  characteristic  of  those  who  dwell  south  of  the  Irish  sea. 

The  death  of  Ebenezer  McElroy  occurred  on  Monday,  March 
31,  1845.  He  was  in  usual  health,  and  had  attended  church  with 
his  family  the  day  previous.  He  was  summoned  with  others  to 
a  neighboring  farm,  where  a  fire,  in  dead  timber  and  fences  and 
forest,  was  raging.  There  while  engaged  in  fighting  the  fire,  he 
was  caught  by  a  falling  tree,  resulting  in  instant  death — in  his 
fifty-fourth  year. 

Ebenezer  and  Sarah  McElroy  were  the  parents  of  ten 
children,  four  of  whom  d.  in  infancy.  Three  daughters  and  three 
sons  grew  to  maturity  and  became  heads  of  families. 

I.  Judith  Ann,^  b.  in  1815;  m.,  in  1834,  James  B.  Curran, 
of  Juniata  County,  Pa.  They  resided  near  Greenfield 
for  twenty  years,  then  removed  to  Illinois,  and  later 
to  near  Carrollton,  Mo.,  where  Mr.  Curran  d.  in  1881, 
at  the  age  of  seventy.  The  widow  afterward  lived  with 
a  daughter  at  Hubbell,  Neb.,  where  she  died  in  1892, 
in  her  seventy-eighth  year.     They  had  eight  children : 

Mrs.  Nancy  G.  Batchelder,**  Osborne,  Kan.  Three  children 
and  several  grandchildren. 

Mrs.  Sarah  Snyder,^  Carrollton,  Mo. 

Mrs.  Maggie  Vandevender,®  who  d.  in  Illinois  in  1878,  leaving 
four  children. 

Mrs  Mattie  Johnson,^  Hubbell,  Neb.    Four  children. 

Hugh  Ebenezer  Curran,''  who  d.  in  Illinois  in  1872,  leaving  two 
children. 


Big  Spring  (Pa.)   Mc Elroys  y\ 

Mrs.  Levinia  Chunn,*'  Adams  County,  Ohio.     Three  children. 

Mrs.  Laura  Ewing,*^  Hubbell,  Neb.     Two  children. 

John  McElroy  Curran,*'  Shenandoah,  Iowa.     Six  children. 

2.  Jane^   b.   in    1817;    m.   William   Templeton.     Lived   at 

Greenfield  ten  years,  then  removed  to  Story  County, 
Iowa,  where  she  d.  in  1896,  in  her  eightieth  year.  Her 
husband  d.  in  1885.  Four  sons  and  their  families  and 
an  unmarried  daughter  reside  at  Ames,  Iowa.  Two 
married  daughters  are  deceased.  The  oldest  son,  Dr. 
H.  M.  Templeton,*'  is  a  prominent  physician. 

3.  Hugh  McElroy'^  b.  in  1820 ;    m.,  in  1845,  Martha  Kerr. 

Lived  near  Greenfield  fourteen  years,  and  has  resided 
in  Jasper  County,  Iowa,  since  1869.  His  esteemed  wife, 
the  mother  of  all  his  children,  d.  September  4,  1880. 
In  November,  1881,  he  m.  Mrs.  Rosanna  B.  Wright, 
who  d.  in  1894.     Eight  children  lived  to  maturity : 

(i)  Mrs.  Sarah  Agnes*'  McLean  d.  in  1877,  leaving  three 
children:    Anna  Zelma,^  Carl  Hugh^  and  Mattie.'^ 

(2)  James  Kerr^  McElroy  m.  Mary  E.  Wambaugh  and 
resides  near  Dexter,  Guthrie  County,  Iowa.  Their  children  are : 
Hugh  J.,'^  Grace  Eva,'^  Martha  Amy^  and  Charles.^ 

(3)  Elizabeth  Ann*'  m.  J.  P.  Winstead,  a  lawyer  and  judge  of 
the  Court  of  Common  Pleas.  They  reside  in  Circleville,  Ohio, 
and  have  four  children,  Samuel  Hugh,^  William  M.,^  Charles 
Edward'^  and  Margaret.'^ 

(4)  Hannah  Margaret^  m.  Joseph  Vanatta,  attorney,  now 
deceased.  She  resides  in  Newton.  Her  daughter,  Mattie  M.,^ 
is  in  college  at  Ames. 

(5)  William  O.  McElroy®  is  a  lawyer  at  Newton,  Iowa.  Is 
a  graduate  of  the  Iowa  College  at  Ames,  and  a  trustee  of  the  same 
institution.  Has  a  fine  home  and  a  good  law  practice.  His  wife 
was  Miss  Julia  Cavanaugh.  Their  children  are:  Margaret,^ 
Harold,"^  Richard  Cavanaugh^  and  Carroll  Fellows.'^ 

(6)  Charles  Sumner  McElroy"  is  a  farmer  near  Newton.    He 


72  Scotch-Irish    McElroys 

m.  Lucy  Miller.      Their  children  are    Floy    Pauline,"   Edward 
Charles^  and  DaleJ 

(7)  Hugh  E.  McElroy"  is  a  prosperous  young  lawyer  at 
Boise  City,  Idaho.  He  m.  Miss  Mary  Rand,  of  Burlington,  la. 
They  have  one  child,  Catherine  Martha.' 

(8)  Miss  Mattie  Esther''  d.  in  1882. 

Brother  Flugh,  in  his  eightieth  year,  lives  with  his  daughter, 
Mrs.  Vanatta,  at  Newton,  Iowa. 

4.  Margaret^  b.  in  1823 ;    m.  Robert  Kerr.     They  resided 

near  Greenfield,  Ohio.  Her  husband  is  an  elder  in  the 
Pisgah  Presbyterian  Church.     They  had  five  children : 

Lizzie"  m.  Marcus  Parrett.    Died  in  1894,  leaving  five  children. 

James  Kerr*'  m.  a  Miss  Fannie  Young.  Lives  near  Newton, 
Iowa.    One  son. 

Emma''  d.  unmarried. 

Mattie"  m.  Lewis  W.  Parrett.  They  reside  near  Washington 
Court  House,  Ohio,  and  have  four  children. 

Thomas  Chalmers"  Kerr  m.  Miss  Emma  Ware.  Occupies  the 
old  home  and  is  an  elder  in  the  Pisgah  Church.  Four  children. 
His  father  lives  with  him,  in  his  eighty-first  year. 

5.  Thomas  Ghormley  McElroy"^  b.  May  29,  1827 ;    m.,  in 

1848,  Miss  Esther  Kerr.  Resided  near  Greenfield.  A 
farmer  and  stock  raiser  and  soldier.  They  had  six 
children,  five  sons  and  one  daughter,  all  of  them  now 
heads  of  families.  Thomas  was  a  man  of  fine  physique, 
erect,  six  feet  in  height  and  well  proportioned.  He 
was  courageous,  prompt  and  ready  for  any  service  to 
which  duty  called  him.  He  was  active  in  church  work, 
in  prayer  meeting  and  in  the  Sunday  school.  His 
earthly  life  closed  suddenly  and  in  a  distressing  and 
tragic  way  while  in  his  early  prime,  at  the  age  of 
thirty-seven. 

Death  of  Thomas  G.  McElroy. 

It  occurred  February  4,  1865.  at  Lees  Creek  Bridge,  on  the 


Thomas  G.  McElroy/  1827-1865 

Ebenezer,*  Ilugli.^  John,-  Hugh  ^ 


Big  Spring   (Pa.)   McElroys  73 

Marietta  and  Cincinnati  Railroad.  He  had  lately  returned  from 
army  service.  He  had  occasion  to  go  on  a  business  errand  to 
Cincinnati,  carrying  with  him  a  sum  of  money  belonging  largely 
to  neighbors  to  make  an  important  payment.  At  the  Greenfield 
depot  a  banker  handed  him  a  package  of  $4,000  in  greenbacks  to 
carry  to  a  bank  in  Cincinnati.  While  awaiting  the  train  he  was 
introduced  to  a  stranger,  Lieutenant  Calohan,  of  Logansport, 
Indiana.  They  entered  the  car  together  and  sat  in  adjoining  seats. 
They  talked  of  army  experiences  and  perils.  Thomas  spoke 
of  the  importance  of  a  soldier  being  a  true  Christian, 
with  his  feet  on  the  sure  foundation  and  ready  for  what- 
ever might  befall.  They  were  soon  at  Lees  Creek,  a  small 
stream  flowing  through  a  deep  gorge.  It  was  a  time  of 
high  water  and  running  ice,  and  the  one  pier  under  the 
middle  of  the  bridge  had  been  undermined  and  had  fallen  during 
the  night.  The  train  men  knew  nothing  of  this  till  they  were  on 
the  falling  bridge.  Twenty-five  persons  with  the  train  fell  some 
fifty  or  sixty  feet  to  the  bottom.  The  wreck  took  fire  and  burned 
every  thing  above  the  water.  It  was  in  the  early  morning  and  in 
a  country  place  where  but  little  help  could  be  had.  A  few  were 
able  to  crawl  out  of  the  wreck.  A  few  were  rescued.  Eight  or 
nine  persons,  including  Thomas,  were  consumed  by  the  fire. 
Some  of  the  bodies  burned  beyond  recognition.  Some  of  them, 
including  Thomas,  had  probably  been  killed  by  the  fall.  The 
greenbacks  on  his  person,  amounting  to  $8,000,  were  consumed. 
After  the  death  of  Thomas,  the  widow  and  children  took  hold, 
bravely  and  prudently,  to  carry  on  the  farm  and  meet  the  require- 
ments of  the  situation. 

Family    of    Thomas^    (Ebenezer    Erskine,*    Hugh,^    John,^ 
Hugh^). 

I.  Ebenezer  Erskine,®  the  oldest  of  the  six  children,  was 
not  quite  sixteen  years  old  at  the  time  of  his  father's 
death.  With  the  hearty  cooperation  of  the  rest 
of    the    family    he    conducted    the    farm    operations, 


74  Scotch-Irish    McElroys 

and  did  it  wisely  and  successfully.  He  at  length 
entered  Salem  Academy,  and  from  there  went  to 
Cornell  University,  graduating  from  the  scientific 
department  in  1872.  He  then  entered  the  law  depart- 
ment of  the  Iowa  State  University  and  graduated  in 
1873.  He  immediately  entered  upon  law  practice  in 
Ottumwa,  where  he  continues  to  the  present,  and  where 
he  has  built  up  a  large  business.  He  is  not  a  politician 
and  has  never  sought  public  office.  He  has  served, 
however,  as  alderman,  and  has  been  for  a  number  of 
years  President  of  the  School  Board.  He  is  a  member 
and  ruling  elder  in  the  First  Presbyterian  Church.  He 
m.  1st,  Miss  Belle  Hamilton,  of  South  Salem,  Ohio, 
and  after  her  demise  Miss  Elizabeth  Milner,  of  Green- 
field, Ohio.  His  widowed  mother,  now  in  her  seventy- 
first  year,  has  her  home  with  him.  Four  sons  and 
three  daughters  fill  the  family  circle. 

Children  of  Ebenezer  E.  and  Belle  (Hamilton)  McElroy. 

(i)  Thomas  Clififord,'^  graduated  from  Cornell  University  in 
1899,  and  has  entered  upon  practice  as  architect  in  Buflfalo,  N.  Y. 
He  m.  Miss  Jean  Smith,  of  Lounsberry,  N.  Y. 

(2)  Carl  Erskine.'^  Member  of  the  wholesale  grocery  firm 
of  Hutchinson  &  Co.,  of  Ottumwa. 

(3)  Walter  Hamilton^  is  a  lawyer,  associated  with  his  father 
in  legal  practice. 

(4)  Ralph'^  is  a  clerk  with  Hutchinson  &  Co. 

(5)  Evalyn^  is  a  student  in  the  High  School. 

Children  of  Ebenezer  E.  and  Elizabeth  (Milner)  McElroy. 

(6)  Edna.^ 

(7)  Edith.^ 

2.     Robert^  N.  McElroy,  second  son  of  Thomas,  was  b.  on 
the  old  McElroy  homestead  in  Fayette  County,  Ohio, 


Big  Spring   (Pa.)   McElroys  75 

October  2,  1850.  He  was  m.  December  23,  1874,  in  the 
same  house  in  which  he  was  born,  by  Rev.  Mr.  Mitchell, 
to  Miss  Almena  Clemantine  Mead,  who  was  born  in 
Pickaway  County,  Ohio,  April  17,  1854.  They  resided 
some  fourteen  years  in  Greenville,  where  Robert  was 
engaged  in  grocery  business.  Since  1888  their  home 
and  business  have  been  in  Otumwa.  They  have  two 
children : 

Thomas  George,'^  who  holds  a  responsible  position  with  John 
Mowell  &  Co.,  and  Miss  Bertha,^  a  pupil  in  Ward  Seminary, 
Nashville,  Tenn. 

3.  James  Finney,*^  third  son  of  Thomas,^  was  b.  November 
25,  1852.  He  attended  the  district  school  in  winter 
and  worked  on  the  farm  in  summer  until  about  seven- 
teen. He  pursued  academic  studies  at  South  Salem  and 
also  at  Bloomingburg,  Ohio,  and  then  entered  Dart- 
mouth College,  graduating  in  1876.  He  was  principal 
of  the  Indiana  Institution  for  the  Blind,  at  Indianapolis, 
four  years,  and  superintendent  for  seven  years  of  the 
Institution  for  the  Blind,  at  Lansing,  Mich.  This  was 
a  new  institution,  and  its  organization  and  the  planning 
of  buildings,  etc.,  devolved  upon  him.  At  Dartmouth, 
along  with  the  classical  course,  he  had  pursued  special 
studies  in  mathematics  and  chemistry.  These  were  con- 
tinued at  Indianapolis  and  Lansing  with  original 
investigations  and  experiments.  During  these  years 
he  brought  out  a  number  of  inventions,  leaving 
them  unpatented.  When  he  found  later  that 
his  own  valuable  devices  had  been  appropriated 
and  patented  by  others,  he  adopted  the  plan  of 
securing  all  his  inventions  by  letters-patent.  In 
1887  he  organized  a  company  for  manufacturing 
some  of  his  own  inventions,  "The  McElroy  Car  Heat- 
ing Company."  Two  years  later  this  was  combined 
with  the   "Sewell   Car   Heating   Company,"    forming 


76  Scotch-Irish    Mc Elroys 

"The  Consolidated  Car  Heating  Company,"  of  Albany, 
N.  Y.  They  manufacture  and  sell  to  railroads  heating 
apparatus  of  all  kinds,  in  which  steam,  hot  water,  fire 
and  electricity  are  used.  These  are  based  upon  patents, 
mostly  taken  out  by  Mr.  McElroy.  Their  growing 
business  extends  throughout  the  United  States  and 
Canada,  with  large  shipments  to  Europe.  The  patents 
issued  to  James  F.  McElroy  to  the  present  time  (A.  D. 
1900)  in  the  United  States,  Canada  and  Europe,  num- 
ber 260,  with  sixty-three  further  applications  pending, 
and  with  a  number  of  nascent  inventions  in  various 
stages  of  preparation  for  the  patent  office.  He  is  act- 
ing president  and  consulting  engineer  of  the  company. 
Mr.  McElroy  was  m.  July  9.  1879,  to  Miss  Susie  Hale, 
of  Newbury,  Vt.  Her  father  was  John  Hale,  a  de- 
scendant, seven  generations  removed,  of  Thomas  Hale, 
who  emigrated  from  England  in  1635  to  Newbury 
Mass.  They  have  three  children :  John  Hale,  b.  May 
I,  1880,  now  a  sophomore  at  Dartmouth;  and  two 
daughters,  Edith  and  Alice,  students  in  the  Albany 
High  School.  The  family  residence  is  131  Lake 
Avenue,  Albany,  N.  Y.  Mr.  McElroy  has  prepared 
papers  on  various  scientific  subjects  which  have  been 
read  before  scientific  bodies,  and  has  delivered  ad- 
dresses on  such  topics  in  New  York,  Boston,  Chicago 
and  Montreal.  Most  of  these  have  been  published, 
either  in  pamphlet  form  or  in  the  proceedings  of 
societies. 

4.  Mary,  only  daughter  of  Thomas,  b.  October  10,  1854;  m., 

December  18,  1881,  Oscar  Duncan,  son  of  an  elder  in 
the  Greenfield  Church.  He  is  a  farmer,  residing  near 
Greenfield.  They  have  two  children,  Esther  Elizabeth 
Duncan  and  John  McElroy  Duncan. 

5.  John    Mercer    McElroy,  fourth    son  of    Thomas,  is  a 

farmer,  residing  near  Ottumwa.     He  was  m.  to  Miss 


James  F.  McElroy" 

Thomas,''   Ebenezer,*   ilugh,'^  John,-   Hugh  ' 


Big  Spring  (Pa.)  Mc Elroys  yy 

Ella  Milner,  near  Greenfield,  February,  1882.  They 
have  seven  children,  viz :  Mayna  Kate,  Robert  Owen, 
Nellie  Fern,  Esther  Priscilla,  Fred,  Mary  and  Ruth. 

.  6.  Hugh  Nevin  McElroy,  youngest  son  of  Thomas,  is  also 
a  farmer,  residing  a  few  miles  north  of  Ottumwa.  He 
m.,  in  1882,  Miss  Emma  Duncan,  sister  of  Oscar. 
Their  two  children  are  Ethel  May,  aged  fourteen  years, 
and  Arthur,  aged  nine  years. 

The  youngest  son  of  Ebenezer,*  of  Greenfield,  O.,  the  writer  of 
these  lines,  John  McConnelP  McElroy,  was  b.  January  21,  1830, 
and  named  for  a  Mr.  John  McConnell,  a  prominent  elder  in  the 
church. 

Until  his  sixteenth  year  he  remained  at  home,  working  on  the 
farm  in  the  summer  and  attending  a  three  months'  district  school 
in  the  winter.  In  1845  he  entered  Salem  Academy,  continuing 
almost  four  years.  In  the  fall  of  1849  he  entered  the  junior  class 
in  Jefferson  College,  at  Canonsburg,  Pa.,  graduating  in  185 1. 
The  next  two  years  he  spent  as  assistant  teacher  in  the  Elders- 
ridge  Academy,  having  his  home  with  the  principal.  Rev.  Dr. 
Donaldson,  and  also  pursuing  theological  studies  under  his  direc- 
tion. He  then  spent  two  years  in  the  Theological  Seminary  at 
Princeton,  N.  J.,  and  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Chilli- 
cothe,  in  session  at  Bloomingburg,  Ohio,  June  6,  1855.  Soon 
after,  he  set  out  for  Iowa,  in  response  to  an  urgent  invitation,  to 
visit  a  newly  organized  church  at  the  little  town  of  Ottumwa, 
on  the  Des  Moines  river.  He  traveled  by  rail  to  Burlington,  on 
the  Mississippi,  and  thence  by  stage  coach,  seventy-five  miles,  to 
Ottumwa.  In  the  town  of  seven  or  eight  hundred  inhabitants 
there  were  only  four  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  with 
perhaps  twenty  scattered  through  the  county.  They  had  no  house 
of  worship  and  had  never  had  any  regular  preaching. 

After  thorough  exploration,  and  with  a  formal  "call"  from  the 
infant  congregation,  he  concluded  to  pitch  his  tent  here  on  the 
frontier.  Returning  east  he  attended  the  fall  meeting  of  Chilli- 
cothe  Presbytery  and  was  granted  a  letter  of  dismission,  as  a 


78  Scotch-Irish    M c Elroys 

licentiate  to  the  Presbytery  of  Des  Moines.  He  was  m.,  near 
Murrysville,  Westmoreland  County,  Pa.,  September  ii,  1855, 
to  Miss  Agnes  Greer,  by  her  pastor,  Rev.  William  Conner,  of  the 
Associate  Reformed  Presbyterian  Church.  He  was  ordained  in 
Ottumwa,  December  6,  1855,  by  Des  Moines  Presbytery,  whose 
territory  then  extended  westward  indefinitely  to  and  beyond  the 
Rocky  Mountains.  Here  and  in  the  immediate  vicinity  has  been 
his  home  and  field  of  labor  for  fully  forty-five  years.  His  pastorate 
of  the  First  Church  of  Ottumwa  covered  a  period  of  fifteen  years. 
Then  the  Batavia  Church,  fourteen  miles  distant,  was  his  field 
for  about  fourteen  years.  Returning  to  Ottumwa  in  the  fall  of 
1883,  he  supplied  the  church  of  Kirkville  for  a  time,  and  then, 
in  1885,  took  charge  of  the  East  End  Chapel  Mission,  in  Ottumwa. 
Here  six  years  of  diligent  labor  resulted  in  the  organization  of  the 
East  End  or  Second  Presbyterian  Church  with  116  communicants. 

Since  1891  he  is  on  the  retired  list,  having  been  disabled  by 
three  annual  sieges  of  la  grippe,  which  left  him  unequal  to  the 
requirements  of  active  work. 

It  is  proper  to  add  that  along  with  his  ministerial  work  in 
Ottumwa  he  was  for  two  years  County  Superintendent  of  Schools, 
and  for  five  years  proprietor  and  principal  of  the  Ottumwa 
Seminary. 

He  has  been  an  occasional  contributor  to  the  secular  and  religi- 
ous press.  As  historian  he  published  a  history  of  his  college  class 
in  1881.  He  wrote,  later,  a  small  volume  entitled,  "Abby  Bryam 
and  her  Father,  Indian  Captives,"  which  was  published  in  1898. 
The  degree  of  D.  D.  was  conferred  on  him  in  1881  by  his  Alma 
Mater,  Washington  and  Jefferson  College. 

The  town  of  Ottumwa  now  contains  a  population  of  about 
20,000,  and  our  three  Presbyterian  churches  have  a  membership 
of  over  700  communicants. 

Children  of  John  M.  and  Agnes  G.  McElroy, 

I.     William  Geer  b.  June  29,  1856;  d.  of  diphtheria,  January 
13,  1862. 


John  M.  McElroy,  D.  D. 


Big  S^pring  (Pa.)   Mc Elroys  79 

2.  Addison  Hodge  b.  May  14,  1859;    ^-y  J^^^  ^5'  ^^^o, 

Emma  Durr.  They  reside  in  Ottumwa.  Their  two 
children,  William  T.,  aged  nineteen,  and  Maude  Agnes, 
aged  seventeen,  attend  the  Ottumwa  High  School. 

3.  Sarah  Abigail  (Abby),  Secretary  Y.  W.  C.  A.,  Nashville, 

Tenn. 

4.  Mary,   General   Secretary  Harlem  Y.  W.   C.  A.,   New 

York  City. 

5.  Jennie  Agnes  b.  1872;    m.,  September  i,  1897,  Everett 

R.  Beard,  M.  D.  They  reside  at  Liberty,  Ind.,  and  have 
a  son,  Raymond  McElroy. 

Mrs.  Sarah  McElroy,  the  writer's  mother,  was  a  widow  twenty- 
six  years,  residing  with  her  son  Thomas,  and  after  his  death,  with 
her  son-in-law  and  daughter,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Robert  Kerr.  Her 
death  occurred  April  20,  1871,  in  her  eighty-fourth  year. 

James  Moir,  merchant,  of  New  York,  was  a  native  of  Scot 
land,  b.  in  Edinburgh,  March  15,  18 17,  son  of  Dr.  James  Moir. 
His  brother.  Dr.  John  Moir,  was  President  of  the  Royal  College 
of  Physicians  and  Surgeons.  Two  other  brothers  held  responsi- 
ble positions  in  government  service  in  India  and  in  the  West 
Indies.  James  Moir  came  to  New  York  in  1836  and  was  engaged 
actively  and  successfully  for  more  than  forty  years  in  mercantile 
business,  retiring  in  1879 — ^  ^^^  of  strict  integrity  and  unblem- 
ished character.  He  was  a  director  for  many  years  of  the  Bank 
of  New  York,  President  of  the  St.  Andrew's  Society  of  the  State 
of  New  York,  a  member  of  the  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art, 
of  the  Geographical  Society,  of  the  Museum  of  Natural  History, 
and  of  many  other  religious,  charitable  and  beneficial  organiza- 
tions. He  m.  Mary  McElroy,  June  3,  1845.  The  home  then 
founded  was  a  favored  and  happy  one,  the  seat  of  intelligence 
and  culture  and  Christian  refinement,  continuing  more  than  fifty 
years.    His  death  occurred,  as  noted  elsewhere,  in  1899. 

Rev.  William  Wilmerding  Moir,  of  New  York,  son  of  James 
and    Mary   (McElroy)    Moir,    and    grandson    of    Rev.    Joseph 


8o  Scotch-Irish    McElroys 

McElroy,  D.  D.,  was  born  in  Manchester,  Eng.,  March  30,  1857, 
his  parents  returning,  two  years  later,  to  their  former  home  in 
New  York.  Their  son  graduated  from  Hellmuth  College,  Lon- 
don, Canada,  in  1874.  For  eleven  years  he  was  in  business  with 
Bacon  Baldwin  &  Co.,  New  York,  most  of  that  time  managing 
their  western  business,  with  headquarters  in  Chicago.  He  grad- 
uated from  the  General  Theological  Seminary  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church  in  May,  1891,  and  was  ordained  deacon  in  the 
Chapel  of  the  Seminary  on  May  24th  of  that  vear  by  the  Right 
Rev.  Henry  C.  Potter,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  Bishop  of  New  York.  He 
was  advanced  to  the  priesthood  by  Bishop  Potter  June  12,  1892, 
and  since  that  date  has  been  the  assistant  pastor  of  the  Church 
of  the  Holy  Communion.  He  has  charge  also  of  the  new  and 
unique  church  enterprise  at  Lake  Placid  in  the  Adirondacks. 
On  September  9,  1900,  the  Church  of  St.  Eustace-by-the-Lakes 
was  opened  for  public  worship,  a  monument  to  the  energy  and 
successful  labor  of  Mr.  Moir.  The  building  was  consecrated  by 
the  Bishop  of  Albany,  the  Bishop  of  New  York  and  other  ecclesi- 
astics assisting.  Summer  visitors  and  native  residents  are  alike 
interested.  For  the  latter  an  Industrial  School,  a  Penny  Provi- 
dent Bank,  and  a  Poor  Closet  are  features  of  the  work. 

David  White^  McElroy  (John,*  John,^  Robert,-  Hugh^)  b. 
March  i,  1842,  in  Rural  Valley,  Armstrong  County,  Pa.  His 
mother  was  Julia  Ann  White.  His  father  was  a  merchant,  and 
the  son  assisted  in  the  business,  when  not  in  school,  until  the  out- 
break of  the  war  in  1861.  He  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Company  A, 
Seventy-eighth  Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Infantry,  serving  until 
mustered  out  November  4,  1864.  Was  in  the  battles  of  Stone 
River — in  which  he  was  wounded — Chickamauga  and  New  Hope, 
and  in  other  smaller  engagements.  After  the  war  he  came  west, 
settling  in  Keokuk,  Iowa,  in  1867.  For  two  years  he  was  engaged 
in  mercantile  business,  then  bought  an  interest  in  the  Buckeye 
Foundry  and  Machine  Shops.  With  this  business  he  has  been 
identified  to  the  present  time,  being  now  sole  proprietor  under  the 
name  of  the  McElroy  Iron  Works. 


Miss  Abbie  McElroy 

Secretary  Y.   W.   C.   A.,  Nashville.  Tenn. 

Miss  Mary  McElroy 

Secretary    Y.    W.    C.    A..    Harlem,    N.    Y. 


Big  spring  (Pa.)  M c Elroys  8i 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Westminster  Presbyterian  Church,  and 
one  of  its  Board  of  Deacons  for  the  past  twenty-nine  years.  He 
is  an  active  and  prominent  member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the 
RepubHc,  and  has  been  repeatedly  honored  with  official  position. 
He  m.,  January  17,  1872,  Miss  Mary  Bailey,  of  Keokuk.  Their 
children  are : 

1.  May^  b.  October  24,  1872;   d.  April  9,  1880. 

2.  John  A.^  b.  March  31,  1875. 

3.  Nannie  M.«  b.  August  28,  1877;    d.  April  8,  1880. 

4.  Margaret^  b.  September  7,  1879 ;  m.  Henry  M.  Colisson, 

February  23,  1898. 

5.  Cora  Belle"  b.  September  28,  1884 ;   d.  January  23,  1885. 

6.  David  White®  b.  June  5,  li 


Rev.  William^  Dickson,  D.  D.,  of  Canfield,  Ohio,  is  of 
McElroy  lineage.  He  was  born  January  24,  1830,  in  County 
Down,  Ireland,  a  few  miles  north  of  Kate's  Bridge.  His  mother 
was  Mary*  McElroy,  daughter  of  Robert,^  granddaughter  of 
Robert^  and  great-granddaughter  of  Hugh,  the  Scotch  pioneer, 
who  settled  at  Kate's  Bridge.  Mrs.  Mary  Dickson  d.  in  Decem- 
ber, 1875.  She  had  a  brother  John,  who  resided  at  Leitrim,  and 
seven  sisters,  all  except  one  remaining  in  Ireland,  and  all  except 
one  or  two  being  now  deceased. 

Mr.  Dickson  graduated  from  Jefferson  College  in  1858,  and 
from  the  Alleghany  Presbyterian  Theological  seminary  in  1861. 
He  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Lisbon  in  1861,  and 
has  been  diligent  and  successful  in  ministerial  and  educational 
work  for  forty  years,  pastor  at  Canfield  and  Professor  in  Normal 
College  since  1881.  He  m.,  in  1857,  Miss  Hettie  Neswonger. 
Their  two  children  are: 

Dr.  James  Dickson,  of  Mt.  Jackson,  Pa. 

Anna,  who  m.  a  merchant  and  resides  at  Cortland,  Ohio. 

Mt.  Union  College  honored  Mr.  Dickson,  in  1875,  with  the 
title  of  D.  D. 


David  VV.  McElrov  " 

.lohn,*  Juhn.-'   Robert.-    Huah  ' 


RICH  HILL  Mcelroys 


About  the  year  1759  James  McElroy  from  Rich  Hill,  County 
Armagh,  near  the  west  line  of  County  Down,  came  to  America, 
at  the  age  of  twenty-one,  and  settled  in  Franklin  County,  Pa.,  in 
the  valley  through  which  flows  the  creek  which  was  called  then 
and  since  by  the  Indian  name  Conecocheague.  The  early  settlers 
there  were  Scotch-Irish  and  connected  with  the  Seceder  and  Cove- 
nanter churches.  There  were  at  least  two  Seceder  churches  in 
that  valley,  known  as  the  East  and  West  churches.  The  latter 
was  near  Green  Castle.  James  McElroy  was  an  only  son,  and 
was  m.  at  the  early  age  of  nineteen.  Their  one  child,  Margaret, 
grew  to  womanhood  and  m.  a  Mr.  Wilson.  The  young  mother 
d.  of  consumption,  after  which  James  sold  his  interest  in  the  fam- 
ily estate  to  his  brother-in-law,  a  Mr.  Shields,  and  came  to 
America. 

Here  he  met  and  m.  a  Miss  Margaret  Mays,  who  had  come 
from  Ireland  when  eleven  years  of  age.  Her  people  had  settled 
at  or  near  Baltimore,  where  in  later  years  they  were  well  known 
and  prominent. 

James  McElroy  was,  according  to  family  traditions,  a  revolu- 
tionary soldier.  It  is  probable  that  when  he  enlisted  he  sent  his 
wife  and  three  little  boys  to  stay  with  her  people  at  Baltimore 
during  his  absence.  That  proved  to  be  the  family  home  for  a 
number  of  years.  After  the  close  of  the  war  the  tide  of  migration 
tended  strongly  toward  Western  Pennsylvania,  and  especially 
to  Washington  County. 

James  McElroy  fell  in  with  this  movement,  and  with  his  family, 
came  to  Washington  County,  Pa.,  in  1784.  He  was  related  to 
the  Knox  family,  of  Scotland,  but  in  what  way  we  do  not  know. 
He  d.  November  20,  1820,  aged  eighty-two,  and  was  buried  in  the 


S4  Scotch-Irish    M c Elroys 

Seceder  cemetery  of  Dr.  Ramsey's  church,  of  which  he  was  a 
member,  at  Canonsburg. 

Children  of  James  and  Margaret  McElroy. 

1.  John  b.  February  8,  1770;   d.  September  2,  1813.     Mar- 

ried, 1st,  February  22,  1791,  Mary  Duncan,  who  was  b. 
October  8,  1767,  and  d.  May  20,  1812;  2d,  Nancy 
Doland,  who  had  one  child,  Francis,  b.  after  his  father's 
death. 

2.  Alexander  b.  April  i,  1772;  m.  ist,  EHzabeth  McCarty; 

2d,  Nancy  White. 

3.  James   b.  1774;   m.  Mary  Mitchell. 

JoHN^  McElroy  (James^)  b.  February  8,  1770;  d.  September 
2,  1813.  Resided  eight  miles  northwest  of  Washington.  Owned 
and  operated  a  horse-mill,  the  first  flouring  mill  in  his  community. 
Married  Mary  Duncan,  who  became  the  mother  of  eleven  children 
and  d.  May  20,  1812,  in  her  forty-fifth  year. 

Children  of  John  and  Mary  (Duncan)   McElroy. 

1.  Margaret^  b.  June  14,  1792;   m.  John  Smith;   d.  June  6, 

1840.     One  child  only  survived  childhood. 

2.  James^  b.  June  17,  1794;  m.  Mary  Smith,  sister  of  John. 

3.  Susannah^  b.  November  15,  1796;   m.  Jacob  Osborne. 

4.  Alexander^  b.  December  15,  1798;    m.  Jane  McDowell; 

d.  April  18,  1840. 

5.  Ellen^  b.  February  20,  1800;    m.  James  Canon,  nephew 

of  the  founder  of  Canonsburg,  Pa.  Their  son,  John, 
d.  young.     One  daughter,  Mary,  survives. 

6.  Mary^  b.  June  17,  1802 ;    m.  George  Drake.     Of  their 

two  children,  Sarah*  and  Lizzie,*  the  latter  alone  sur- 
vives. 

7.  John^  b.  December  15,  1804;   m.  Mary  Cassil,  of  Knox 

County,  Ohio ;  d.  1878. 

8.  Eliza^  b.  February  15,  1806;    m.  Alexander  Vincent,  of 

Knox  County,  Ohio;    d.  February  23,  1864. 


James  McElrov/  1796-1843 
John,-  James  ' 


Rich   Hill   McElroys  8$ 

9.     Ebenezer^  b.  June   11,   1807;    m.  Selina  Dunnivan;    d. 

1875- 

10.  Tabitha^  b.  February  20,  1809;    m.  James  Graham;    d. 

November,  1881. 

11.  Jane^  b.  September  12,  1810;  m.  Abram  Drake;  d.  1842. 

Their  one  child,  Alexander,  m.  Elizabeth  Shrimplin, 
who  bore  him  four  children.  He  d.  in  Iowa  a  few 
years  ago. 

Of  the  above  family,  all  married,  and  with  one  exception  had 
children  of  their  own.  All  with  perhaps  one  exception  were' 
members  of  the  Disciples'  Church,  and  earnest  church  workers. 
Six  of  these  families  migrated  to  Knox  County,  Ohio,  between 
1836  and  1840,  and  there  organized  a  Disciples'  Church,  in  which 
John  and  Ebenezer  were,  all  their  lives,  efficient  and  prominent. 
Two  of  the  families  settled  near  Warren,  Ohio,  while  three  re- 
mained in  Pennsylvania. 

James^  McElroy  (John,2  James^)  b.  June  17,  1794;  m.  Mary 
Smith,  sister  of  John.  He  was  a  farmer  and  lived  and  died  in 
Washington  County.  He  was  one  of  the  early  and  steadfast 
friends  of  Alexander  Campbell  and  was  identified  with  the  relig- 
ious movement  of  which  he  was  leader.  He  was  a  man  of  fine 
character,  of  great  energy  and  immense  capacity  for  work.  He 
m.  at  the  early  age  of  twenty,  and  succeeded  to  the  ownership 
of  his  father's  farm  and  also  furnished  a  home  to  his  younger 
brothers  and  sisters.  He  carried  on  the  farm,  ran  the  little  mill, 
and  gradually  embarked  in  the  wool  and  sheep  business,  and  pros- 
pered. In  a  little  more  than  twenty  years  he  bought  and  paid  for 
five  farms,  and  had  erected  on  one  of  them  near  West  Middle- 
town,  a  large  steam  flouring  mill,  and  was  from  that  time  engaged 
largely  in  the  flour  business.  He  d.  July  10,  1843,  ^t  the  early 
age  of  forty-nine,  leaving  a  good  name,  considerable  property, 
and  a  large  family.  He  was  considered  a  very  well-informed 
Bible  student.  Although  not  an  ordained  minister,  he  often  con- 
ducted the  public  services  in  their  meetings  for  worship. 


86  Scotch-Irish    M c Elroys 

Children  of  James  and  Mary   (Smith)    McElroy. 

1.  John*  b.  March  4,  1815 ;    m.  Margaret  Steele  and  had 

four  children :    Jennie,^  James, ^  Charles^  and    Lizzie.^ 

2.  Mary  Ann*  b.  October  3,  1816;    m.  William  McKeever. 

Their  five  sons  were  Thomas,'^  James, ^  Birney,^  Alex- 
ander^ and  David.^  The  three  older  were  soldiers  in 
the  civil  war.  Thomas  lost  his  life  along  with  fifty 
others  by  the  sinking  of  a  boat. 

Margaret*  b.  June  16,  1818 ;  m.  David  McClay,  by  whom 
she  had  five  children. 

Harriet*  b.  October  13,  1821  ;  m. Allison.    Had  six 

children. 

Lucinda*  b.  October  15,  1823;    m.  John  Christie.     Had 
six  children. 

James*  b.  October  16,  1825 ;   m.  Mary  J.  Daugherty,  of 
West  Middletown,  and  had  four  children. 

Alexander*  b.  November  7,  1827;  m.  Malissa  Fosbinder. 
Had  eight  children. 

Rebecca*  b.  December  7,  1830;   m.  Thomas  Lane.     Had 
ten  children. 
9.     Smith*  E.  b.  March  12,  1832;   m.  Emma  Critchfield. 

10.  Selena*  b.  July  18,  1834;   m.  William  Dodds.     Had  five 

children. 

11.  Lavinia*  b.  August  27,  1836;    m.  Bazil  Williams.     Had 

four  children. 

12.  Ebenezer*  B.  b.  September  17,  1841 ;    m.,  1869,  Agnes 

C.  McFadden. 

Susannah^  McElroy  (John,-  James^)  b.  November  15,  1796; 
m.  Jacob  Osborne.  Two  of  their  three  children — Alexander*  and 
James* — d.  young.  Their  daughter,  Mary,*  m.  Joseph  Dawson. 
Two  of  Mrs.  Dawson's  six  children  d.  in  infancy.  The  other 
four  are : 


Rich   Hill   McElroys  87 

George^  m.  twice,  ist,  to  Jane  Critchfield.     Has  had  four 
children. 

Clarinda.^ 

Ella.^ 

Chase.^ 

Aunt  Susan,  then  a  widow,  removed  with  her  children  about 
the  year  1837  to  Knox  County,  Ohio,  settling  in  Howard  Town- 
ship. She  was  a  woman  of  active  mind  and  remarkable  memory. 
In  the  year  1868,  Austin  A.  Cassil,  now  an  attorney  in  Chicago, 
then  a  lad  of  14,  listened  with  great  interest  to  the  conversations 
of  his  grand  aunt,  then  seventy-two  years  of  age,  and  committed 
to  writing  what  she  recalled  of  her  grandfather,  James  McElroy, 
of  Rich  Hill,  and  of  his  descendants.  This  he  printed  some  years 
later,  and  this  is  the  nucleus  of  our  present  history.  Mrs.  Osborne 
d.  in  July,  1878,  in  her  eighty-second  year. 

Alexander^  McElroy  (John,^  James^)  b.  December  15,  1798, 
in  Mt.  Pleasant  Township,  Washington  County,  Pa.  A  farmer. 
Married,  April  13,  1820,  Jane  McDowell,  a  descendant  of  Judge 
McDowell,  who  was  prominent  as  an  elder  in  Dr.  McMillan's 
Church,  and  one  of  the  founders  of  Jefferson  College.  She  was 
b.  May  14,  1797,  and  d.  in  September,  1872.  He  d.  April  19,  1840. 
They  were  identified  with  the  Associate  Reformed  Church,  of 
Cross  Roads,  where  both  are  buried. 

Children  of  Alexander  and  Jane  McElroy. 


James*  b.  March  2,  1821 ;    m.,  in  1844,  Mary  Cundall. 
John*  b.  June  12,  1823 ;    m.,  May,   1862,  Julia  Farrar. 

He  d.  August  4,  1880.    The  wife  d.  June  21,  1882. 
Alexander*  b.  January  31,  1827;   d.  1844. 
William*    b.    May    13,    1829;     m.,  A.  D.  1848,    Nancy 

Buchanan. 
Mary*  b.  October  7,  1833  I    d.  January  20,  1840. 
Joseph*  b.  October  14,  1836;  m.,  May  i,  1873,  Margaret 

Brown. 


gg  Scotch-Irish    M c Elroys 

Children  of  James*  and  Mary  McElroy. 

1.  Mary  Jane^  m.  Maj.  S.  L.  Wilson.    She  d.  in  1890,  leav- 

ing five  children,  viz.:  Albert,^  Rella®  (d.  January, 
1900),  Hattie,®  May^  and  Henry.® 

2.  Edward^  m.  Lottie  Hamilton,  and  d.   1872.     Left  one 

daughter. 

3.  Alexander^   M.     A  business  man  in  Washington,   Pa., 

and  elder  in  U.  P.  Church.  Married  Mattie  Nichol. 
Two  of  their  children  are  deceased,  viz. :  James''  and 
Lula.®  Five  are  living,  viz. :  Mary,®  Helen,® 
Earl,®  Ida®  and  Blanche.® 

4.  James^  d.  unmarried. 

5.  John^  d.  unmarried. 

William  McElroy*  (Alexander,^  John,^  James^)  b.  May  13, 
1829;  m.,  about  1848,  Nancy  Buchanan.  Resided  at  Wellsburgh, 
W.  Va.  Was  a  soldier  during  the  civil  war.  Died  about  1885. 
His  wife  d.  September,  1899. 

Children  of  William  and  Nancy  McElroy. 
Two  d.  young.     Their  living  children  are: 

1.  Miss  Emma  Jane.^     At  Wellsburgh. 

2.  William^  d.  at  the  age  of  twenty-three. 

3.  Alexander^  m.  and  has  a  family  at  Wellsburgh. 

4.  Laura^  m.  Campbell  Wells ;    d.   1890.     Left  one  child, 

Absalom.® 

5.  Frank^  is  m.  and  has  two  sons  at  Wellsburgh. 

6.  Charles^  unmarried. 

Joseph  McElroy*  (Alexander,^  John,^  James*)  b.  October  14, 
1836.  Is  a  physician  with  large  practice  at  Hickory,  Washington 
County,  Pa.,  where  he  has  resided  for  thirty  years.  Has  two 
daughters.  The  older  one,  Leila  Blanche,^  m.,  August  16,  1898, 
Joseph  B.  Kithcart,  attorney.  They  reside  in  Steubenville,  Ohio. 
The  younger,  Miss  Jennie  Adaline,^  is  at  home  with  her  parents. 


Joseph  McElroy/  M.  D. 
Alexander,*  John, 2  James  '^ 


Rich   Hill   McElroys  89 

Ellen^  McElroy  (John,-  James^)  m.  James  Canon,  nephew 
of  the  founder  of  Canonsburgh,  Pa.  Their  son,  John,  d.  young. 
They  have  one  daughter,  Mary. 

Maky^  McElroy  (John,^  James^)  m.  George  Drake,  of  How- 
ard Township,  Knox  County,  Ohio,  and  had  two  daughters,  Sarah 
and  Lizzie.     The  former  d.  young. 

JoHN^  McElroy  (John,-  James^)  m.  Mary  Cassil,  daughter  of 
John  Cassil,  Sr.,  of  Knox  County,  Ohio.  He  was  a  farmer  and  a 
man  of  unusual  stability  and  worth  and  good  influence.  He  took 
an  active  part  in  organizing  the  first  Disciples'  church  in  the  region 
where  he  lived,  and  in  erecting  their  house  of  worship,  and  in 
conducting  their  church  services.  He  was  County  Commissioner 
for  two  terms  during  the  "50's." 

Children  of  John  and  Mary  Cassil  McElroy. 

1.  Tabitha*  m.  Peres    Critchfield    and    had    two  children. 

1st,  John  M.,^  who  m.  Belle  Critchfield;  her  son, 
Donald  P.  Critchfield,  being  of  the  sixth  generation. 
2d,  Mary  Ida^  m.  Royal  D.  Langford,  and  had  two 
children,  Paul^  and  Clair.''  John  M.  Critchfield  was 
Probate  Judge  of  Knox  County  1887-1893. 

2.  John*  d.  in  infancy. 

3.  Nancy  Jane*  m.  Meshach  Critchfield.     Their  children: 

(i)  Etta^  m.  James  Dawson,  and  had  Phil.  H.,®  Keturah,® 
John  M.« 

(2)  Dora^  m.  Fremont  J.  Critchfield,  and  had  one  child, 
Blanche.*' 

(3)  Elmer^  m.  Eunice  Boyd. 

4.  John*  m.  Mary  Ann  Daymude  and  had  children : 

(i)     Burgess  M.^ 

(2)     Jennie,  m.  John  Berry. 


go  Scotch-Irish    McElroys 

5.  Mary  Esther*  m.  George  Critchfield,  and  had  children: 

Barton  M.^  and  James  R.^    B.  M.  Critchfield  was  Pro- 
bate Judge  of  Knox  County,  1893- 1896. 

6.  James*  m.   Frances  Mast,  and  had  one  child,  William 

Lincoln.^ 

7.  Margaret   Ellen*  m.   Roland   Critchfield.     Lovilla'   and 

Minnie^  are  their  children. 

8.  Lucinda*  d.  young. 

9.  Julietta*  m.  Hiram  Magers.     Their  children,  Del  Ray,*" 

Polly,^  Bessie^  and  Dorse. ^     Their  residence  was  near 
Hutchinson,  Kan.,  where  she  d.  in  1898. 

Burgess  M.  McElroy^    (John,*  John,^  John,-  James^)   is  at 
present  (1900)  Clerk  of  the  Ohio  House  of  Representatives. 

Eliza^  McElroy  (John,-  James^)  m.  Alexander  Vincent,  and 
resides  in  Howard  Township,  Knox  County. 

Children   of   Eliza    (McElroy)    and   Alexander  Vincent. 

1.  Alexander*  m.  Mary  Jane  Buchanan,  and  had  six  chil- 

dren:   Jennie,^   Alice,'^    Elizabeth,^  Amanda,^  Judson,'' 
and  Mark.^ 

2.  Mary  Jane*  m.  Alexander  Cassil,  and  had  two  children : 
Austin  A.^  b.  1854 ;   m.  Clara  A.  Bergen,  June  20,  1880. 
William  R.^  d.  May  9,  188 1. 

3.  Martha*  m.  Wilson  Critchfield,  and  had  children:    Fre- 

mont J.,^  Flora,^  Lorin,"  Alice."^  Harvey.-^'  d.  young. 

4.  Selena*  m.  Elias  Peeler,  and  had  five  children:   Vincent 

J.,^  Frank,^  deceased  ;  Ella,^  deceased  ;Walter,^  Barker.' 

5.  Amanda*  m.  C.  E.  Critchfield.    Their  children  :   Charles,^ 

and  Nellie.' 

6.  Jay*  m.  and  has  several  children. 

Ebenezer^  McElroy  (John,^  James^)   was  an  active  and  in- 
fluential man  in  his  community,  a  fluent  speaker,  endowed  with 


Rich   Hill   McElroys  91 

natural  gifts  of  a  high  order.     Married  Selina  Dunnivan,  who 
bore  him  five  children. 

1.  Mary  Ann*  m.  James  Buchanan,  and  had  three  children: 

James,^  Selena,^  Sallie.^ 

2.  Harriet*  m.  David  McGugin.    Their  children :   William,^ 

George,^  Lizzie,^  Mary,^    Frank,^  Walter.^ 

3.  Thomas*  m.  Elmira  Shrimplin.    He  was  a  soldier.    Died 

in  the  civil  war,  leaving  two  daughters : 
Cora,^  who  m.  Laurel  Robinson,  and  has  two  children. 
Eva^  m.  Winnie  Robinson,  and  had  one  child. 

4.  John*  d.  young. 

5.  Sarah  Jane*  m.  ist,  Smith  Buchanan,  a  soldier,  who  d. 

during  the  war.     She  m.  2d,  George  Burris. 

Tabitha^  McElroy  (John,-  James^)  m.  James  Graham,  and 
had  five  children.    Died  188 1. 

1.  John*    m.   Louisa    Shrimplin,  and    had    two    children: 

Pardee,^  deceased,  and  John.^  The  father  d.  many 
years  ago. 

2.  Alexander*  m.  Anna  Cake,  and  had  one  child,  Laura.^ 

A  soldier.     Died  from  disease  contracted  in  the  army. 

3.  James  Burleigh.*     An  attorney  engaged  in  law  practice 

in  Mt.  Vernon.  Born  November  9,  1842 ;  graduated 
from  Kenyon  College  in  1866;  a  teacher  for  two  years. 
Studied  law  with  Judge  Hurd,  of  Mt.  Vernon,  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  1872,  and  now  has  been  in  practice  twenty- 
eight  years.  Married,  in  1881,  Miss  Jennie  Taylor, 
whose  sudden  death  occurred  November  29,  1897. 

4.  Eliza  Jane*  m.  Lyman  Ellis,  and  had  a  daughter,  Edna. 

Children  of  James  B.  and  Jennie  Graham. 
I.     George^  b.  1882. 


Ada.5 
May.^ 
James. ^ 
Zilla^  b.  1896. 


92  Scotch-Irish    M c Elroys 

William  Lincoln  McElroy^  (James,*  John,^  John,-  James^) 
6.  near  Howard.  Knox  County,  Ohio,  October  6,  1865.  Brought 
up  on  the  farm,  attended  the  public  school,  a  student  in  Butler 
University,  Indiana,  one  year,  attended  Bethany  College,  West 
Virginia,  graduating  with  the  highest  honors  in  1886.  Studied 
law  with  Hon.  William  M.  Koons,  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
December  6,  1887,  and  had  been  engaged  in  law  practice  in  Mt. 
Vernon  for  twelve  years  past.  W^as  prosecuting  attorney  for  the 
county  three  years,  trustee  of  the  Institution  for  the  Deaf  and 
Dumb  at  Columbus,  and  had  been  prominently  spoken  of  for  Con- 
gressional honors.  He  was  a  man  of  fine  attainments  and  oratori- 
cal power.  He  d.  of  typhoid  pneumonia  at  the  home  of  his 
parents  August  23,  1900,  leaving  many  friends  to  mourn  his 
demise,  among  them  his  affianced  bride,  to  whom  he  would  have 
been  m.  in  October. 


Alexander^  McElroy  (James^)  b.  April  i,  1772;  m.  ist, 
Elizabeth  McCarty ;  2d,  Nancy  White.  The  first  wife  d.  soon 
after  the  birth  of  their  one  child.  Margaret,  who  was  b.  April  i, 
1798,  and  d.  unmarried  July  3.  1865.  The  2d  wife  was  b.  Octo- 
ber 19,  1781  ;  m.  December  2,  1812;  d.  November  12,  1851. 
Alexander  McElroy  was  an  industrious  and  prosperous  farmer, 
lived  five  miles  from  Canonsburgh.  Pa.,  was  a  member  of  Mil- 
ler's Run  Presbyterian  Church,  and  an  elder  for  sixty  years.  He 
d.  March  4,  1864,  aged  ninety-two,  and  was  buried  at  Wash- 
ington. 

Children  of  Alexander  and  Nancy  McElroy. 

1.  Eliza  Ann^  b.  November  2,   1814;    m.  Joseph  V.  Rea, 

November  26,  1840;   d.  1878. 

2.  James^  b.  June  28,  1817;  m.  Elizabeth  Campbell,  August 

20,  1840;    d.  June  9,  1876.  aged  sixty-three. 

3.  Nancy  Jane^  b.  May  26.  1821  ;  m.  James  Cotton,  August 

24,  1843. 


Kick   Hill   McElroys  93 

Children  of  Eliza  Ann  (McElroy)  and  Joseph  V.  Rea. 

1.  A.  McElroy  Rea,*  physician,  West  Middletown. 

2.  William  Rea,*  farmer,  McConnell's  Mills,  Pa. 

3.  Mrs.  Nancy  Jane*  (McDowell),  Washington,  Pa. 

Children  of  Nancy  Jane    (McElroy)    and  James  Cotton. 

I.     A.  McElroy  Cotton,*  physician,  Haddonfield,  N.  J.    Born 
May  II,  1844. 
2.     James  S.*  b.  March  8,  1847.    A  soldier.    Died  during  the 
war,  November  30,  1864. 

3.  Agnes*  b.  May  30,  185 1  ;  d.  August  16,  1863,  unmarried. 

4.  Christian    M.*      A    widower,    Washington,    Pa.      Born 

February  9,  1853. 

5.  L.  S.*  Cotton,  Washington.     Married  Lillie  B.  Judson. 

They  have  three  children. 

6.  Robert  H.*  Cotton,  b.  September  4,  1856 ;   m.  September 

5,  1882,  Miss  Florence  M.  Freshwaters,  who  d.  March 
15,  1898,  the  mother  of  three  children: 

Gilmore^  b.  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  November  25,  1883. 

Flossie^  b.  July  16,  1886;    d.  October  26,  1889. 

Roberta^  Laraine,  b.  at  Wellsburg,  W.  Va.,  March  15,  1898. 

Robert  H.  Cotton  is  a  prominent  lawyer ;  admitted  to  the  bar 
by  the  Supreme  Court  of  Ohio,  December  7,  1880.  In  practice 
at  Columbus  six  years,  and  at  Wellsburg,  W.  Va.,  since  1886. 
Has  been  prosecuting  attorney  of  his  county  for  eight  years  past, 
and  his  name  was  before  the  nominating  convention  as  candidate 
for  Attorney-General  of  West  Virginia. 

Mother  Cotton  lives  with  her  son  Robert,  at  Wellsburg,  a 
widow,  in  her  eightieth  year. 

James^  McElroy  (Alexander,^  James^)  b.  June  28,  1817;  m. 
Elizabeth  Campbell,  August  20,  1840.  She  d.  June  9,  1876,  aged 
sixty-three,  leaving  six  children : 

I.     Esther   Mary*  m.    Samuel    Brady.     Residence   Canons- 
burgh.    No  issue. 


g^  Scotch-Irish    M c Elroys 

2.  Nancy  Ann*  m.  William  Rea.     Reside  at  Bulger,  Pa. 

3.  Alexander  M.*  m.  Mary  Richardson.     Residence  Cleve- 

land, Ohio.    Have  one  child,  Raymond. 

4.  Lucinda   H.*   m.   Joseph   McKirahan    (now   deceased), 

Carnegie,  Pa. 

5.  Elizabeth  Jane*  m.  John    A.  Aiken,  August  20,   1879. 

Ingram,  Pa. 

6.  Sarah*  Isabel  McElroy,  single,  Canonsburgh,  Pa. 

Grandchildren  of  James  and  Elizabeth    (Campbell) 

McElroy. 

John  Rea^  deceased. 

S.  Jefferson  Rea,  Bulger,  Pa. 

William  M.  Rea,  Bulger.  Pa. 

A.  Roy  McKirahan,  m.  Mabel  Moyer,  Rochester,  N.  Y. 

Ray  McKirahan  (deceased). 

Thomas  El  Moyne  McKirahan,  Carnegie,  Pa. 

Adia  E.  Aiken,  Ingram,  Pa. 

Myrta  Fay  Aiken,  Ingram,  Pa. 

Fred.  A.  Aiken,  Ingram,  Pa. 

Jambs'^  McElroy  (James^)  b.  1774.  His  home  near  Baltimore, 
where  he  attended  an  institution  of  learning,  of  which  his  kins- 
man, a  Mr.  Alexander  Mays,  was  the  head.  He  was  a  scholarly 
man,  of  good  attainments  and  extensive  reading.  He  studied 
medicine,  but  never  engaged  in  practice,  devoting  himself  to  the 
life  of  a  farmer.  He  m.,  in  Washington  County,  Pa.,  Miss  Mary 
Mitchell,  whose  family  were  well-known  and  prominent  people. 
One  of  her  sisters  was  the  wife  of  Rev.  Dr.  Riddell,  an  Associate 
Reformed  Presbyterian  minister.  She  was  b.  in  1786,  and  d.  in 
1850. 

After  living  for  a  time  in  Washington  County,  he  removed  to 
Ohio,  locating  on  a  farm  seven  miles  from  Steubenville,  erecting 
a  residence  modeled  after  the  Maryland  home,  where  he  passed 
the  rest  of  his  life.  He  was  an  intelligent  man,  generous  and 
kind,  and  the  soul  of  honor,  but  naturally  dignified  and  unbend- 


Rich   Hill   McElroys  95 

ing.  Even  his  children,  who  admired  and  honored  him,  felt  some- 
thing of  awe  in  his  presence.  He  d.  in  1858,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
four.  He  and  family  were  members  of  the  Associate  Reformed 
Presbyterian  Church,  merged,  later,  in  the  United  Presbyterian 
Church. 

Children  of  James  and  Mary  McElroy. 

1.  Margaret^  m.  Madison  Gladden.     She  d.   1865.     They 

had  five  children  living  in   1900: 

( 1 )  William  Gladden*  b.  1834.  Merchant,  Mt.  Pleasant,  Iowa. 

(2)  James.*     California. 

(3)  John  Riddell.*    California. 

(4)  Mrs.  Van  Vranken.*     Tabor,  Iowa. 

(5)  Miss  Selena*  Gladden.    Denver,  Col. 

2.  James^  m.  Sarah  McCausland,  daughter  of  Col.  McCaus- 

land,  who  figured  in  the  Mexican  war,  and,  later,  a 
member  of  Congress.  They  had  two  sons  and  three 
daughters.    Parents  are  both  deceased. 

3.  Jane^  m.  Cyrus  Cunningham,  of  Richmond,  Ohio,  and  d. 

1862.  Had  two  sons  and  eight  daughters.  Resided  in 
Wellsburg,  W.  Va. 

4.  Joseph^  m.  Mary  Jane  Lee,  of  Cadiz,  Ohio.    He  d.  1863. 

Had  two  sons  and  three  daughters.  Two  daughters 
and  one  son  deceased. 

5.  John^  m.  Keziah  Lewis,  of  Wellsburg;    d.  in  the  early 

'90's  leaving  three  sons. 

6.  Elizabeth^   m.   James   Russell,   of  Washington   County, 

Pa.     She  resides,  a  widow,  at  Barnesville,  Ohio. 

Ebenezer  B.*  McElroy  (James,^  John,^  James^)  b.  in  Wash- 
ington County,  Pa.,  September  17,  1841.  Brought  up  on  the  farm, 
attended  the  public  schools  and  State  Normal  school,  became  a 
teacher  at  twenty.  Enlisted  in  First  West  Virginia  Volunteers 
in  1861,  serving  two  years.  In  1863,  re-enlisted  in  One  Hun- 
dredth Pennsylvania  Veteran  Volunteers  ("Round  Heads")  and 


q6  Scotch-Irish    McElroys 

served  in  all  the  battles  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  to  the  final 
surrender  of  Lee's  army.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he  re-entered 
college  and  then  taught  for  several  years  in  Pennsylvania  and 
West  Virginia.  In  1873  he  went  to  Oregon,  settling  at  Corvallis. 
Was  County  Superintendent  of  Schools  for  six  years,  and  in  1882 
was  nominated  and  elected  as  State  Superintendent  of  Public 
Schools,  being  twice  reelected  and  holding  the  position  twelve 
years.  For  six  years  past  he  has  been  a  professor  in  the  Univer- 
sity at  Eugene,  Oregon.  He  is  prominent  in  Grand  Army  circles, 
and  has  been  an  officer  in  the  National  Teachers'  Association. 
He  is  a  worker,  and  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  most  capable  and 
high-minded  among  the  public  men  of  his  State.  He  is  known  as 
Colonel  McElroy,  and  carries  the  honors  of  A.  M.  and  Ph.  D. 

He  m.,  in  1869,  in  Washington  County,  Pa.,  Miss  Agnes  C. 
McFadden,  niece  of  the  distinguished  Alexander  Campbell, 
prominent  in  the  Disciple  or  Christian  Church. 

The  death  of  Professor  McElroy  occurred  at  Eugene,  Oregon, 
May  4,  1901. 


James*  McElroy  (James,^  John,-  James^)  b.  near  West  Mid- 
dletown,  Washington  County,  Pa.,  October  16,  1825.  Married 
1st,  March  23,  1849,  Miss  Mary  J.  Daugherty,  who  d.  April  11, 
1867;  2d,  April  8,  1874,  Elizabeth  M.  Clough.  His  schooling- 
was  in  the  district  schools,  in  the  sheep  folds,  and  in  his  father's 
flouring  mill.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  he  joined  a  military  com- 
pany, and  at  eighteen  received  commission  as  captain  from  Gover- 
nor Porter.  At  sixteen  he  became  master  of  transportation  in  the 
flour  trade,  with  six  horse  team  hauling  to  Pittsburgh,  to  Wells- 
burg,  on  the  Ohio  river,  and  across  the  mountains  to  Cumberland. 

For  twelve  years  after  marriage  he  was  a  farmer,  in  wool  busi- 
ness and  shipping  fat  stock  to  Eastern  markets. 

When  the  war  broke  out  he  was  one  of  the  first  to  volunteer, 
he  and  his  company  of  ninety-six  men  being  mustered  in  at  Wheel- 
ing, as  Company  B,  First  W.  Va.  Volunteers.  His  regiment,  in 
which  he  was  captain  and    adjutant,  was    on  duty  in  the    West 


James  McElroy 

Late    Captain    First    West    \^irginia    \'o]unteer    Infantry 


Rich   Hill   McElroys  gy 

Virginia  mountains,  and  in  the  Shenandoah  valley  and  in  Mary- 
land, and  was  engaged  in  thirty-six  battles,  not  to  speak  of  skir- 
mishes and  severe  marches. 

A  year  after  returning  from  his  three  years  of  military  service, 
having  sold  his  farm  and  stock,  he  removed  to  Davenport,  Iowa, 
and  was  there  engaged  for  eight  years  in  mercantile  business, 
hides,  wool,  live  stock  and  grain. 

In  1874  he  removed  to  Chicago,  and  immediately  bought  a 
membership  in  the  Board  of  Trade,  and  has  been  engaged  in  the 
commission  business  on  the  Board  of  Trade  ever  since.  He  has 
met  with  success  in  business,  and  is  very  happy  in  his  family 
relations.  His  children  are  all  married.  He  has  seven  grand- 
children and  one  great-grandchild. 

He  is  a  member  and  officer  of  the  First  Baptist  Church  of  Chi- 
cago, of  which  Dr.  P.  S.  Henson  is  pastor.  His  seventy-five 
years  seem  to  sit  lightly  upon  him — judging  by  his  portrait.  He 
is  six  feet  and  one  inch  in  height,  and  his  avoirdupois  amounts 
to  190. 

The  captain  writes  us  nothing  about  present-day  politics,  but 
he  tells  us  that  his  father  and  uncles  were  old-time  Whigs,  and 
also  that  they  were  earnest  and  zealous  Abolitionists. 

Since  our  manuscript  went  to  the  printer  an  -item  of  interest 
has  come  in  regard  to  Margaret,  infant  daughter  of  James 
McElroy,  of  Rich  Hill,  who  in  mature  years  m.  a  Wilson. 

The  late  James  Wilson,  of  Troy,  N.  Y.,  was  probably  her  son. 
He  was  a  native  of  County  Armagh,  his  mother  a  McElroy.  A 
granddaughter  of  his,  Mrs.  James  H.  Lobdell,  resides  in  Chicago. 
A  grandson,  Hon.  Charles  R.  Sligh,  of  Grand  Rapids,  is  a  promi- 
nent citizen  of  Michigan,  who  narrowly  escaped  the  Governorship 
a  few  years  since. 


J 


ALBANY  Mcelroys 


The  name  McElroy  has  been  well  known  in  Eastern  New  York 
for  more  than  a  hundred  years.  Shortly  before  the  year  i8cx) 
two  brothers,  James  and  Samuel  McElroy,  came  from  County 
Down,  North  Ireland,  and  settled  at  Albany,  Their  father  was 
David  McElroy,  residing  in  the  northern  part  of  County  Down, 
whose  wife  was  the  Lady  Eleanor  Glendenning.  Tradition  re- 
lates that  this  noble  lady  when  hunting  was  on  one  occasion 
rescued  from  great  peril  by  David  McElroy,  and  the  resulting 
acquaintance  and  appreciation  led  to  their  marriage. 

Children  of  David  and  Eleanor  McElroy. 


James^  m.  Jane  White.    Resided  at  Albany. 


2.  SamueP  b.  1762;    m.  ist,  Eleanor  Jackson;    2d,  Esther 

C.  Porter. 

3.  David.2 

4.  Mary^  m.  John  Hyde.     Resided  in  Delaware  County, 

N.  Y. 

5.  Margaret^  m.  John  Lundie. 

6.  Eleanor^  m.  Joseph  McBurney,  merchant,  Albany, 

James^  McElroy  (David^)  who  m,  Jane  White,  was  widely 
known  as  "Boss  McElroy."  He  was  an  architect  and  celebrated 
builder.  He  built  the  old  Albany  capitol,  Waterford  bridge,  first 
canal  lock  near  Rome,  N,  Y.,  and  Government  forts  on  the  lakes 
for  the  war  of  1812.  He  was  a  man  of  splendid  physique  and 
resided  at  Albany, 

Children  of  James  and  Jane  McElroy. 

1.  Mary3  m.  John  McElroy.     Settled  in  Ohio. 

2.  Eleanor^  m.  David  Martin,  M.  D.    Albany. 


100  Scotch-Irish    McElroys 


Sarah^  m.  Campbell.     Albany. 

Nancy. ^ 

Margaret.^    Married  and  resided  in  Philadelphia. 

James^  m.  Eleanor  Russell. 

Robert^  m.  Jane  McCullom. 


Samuel-  McElroy  (David^)  b.  in  County  Down,  1762.  Was 
educated  with  a  view  to  the  Presbyterian  ministry,  but  "ran 
away" — so  tradition  has  it — to  America,  settled  at  Albany,  and 
became  a  merchant.  His  first  wife  was  Eleanor  Jackson,  of  New 
Scotland,  Albany  County,  N.  Y.  Her  father,  John  Jackson, 
emigrated  from  Scotland  time  of  the  French  war,  and  was 
founder  of  the  town.  Died  in  1826,  at  the  age  of  ninety-nine. 
His  wife  was  Sarah  Lundie.  His  descendants  numbered  at  his 
death  178.     Five  grandsons  were  soldiers  in  the  civil  war. 

Samuel  McElroy  m.,  as  second  wife,  in  1817,  at  Ballston, 
Esther  C.  Porter.  He  was  a  prominent  citizen  and  successful 
merchant.  Retiring  from  business  about  1825,  he  removed  to 
Johnstown,  N.  Y.,  where  he  built  a  large  residence.  He  was  a 
man  of  fine  appearance  and  was  often  taken  for  Governor  DeWitt 
Clinton.    He  d.  in  1834,  aet.  seventy-two. 

Children  of  Samuel  and  Eleanor  McElroy. 

T.     Margaret^  b.  November  11,  1800;   m.  Thomas  McElroy, 
January  3,  1825 ;   d.  September  8,  1883. 

2.  Thomas^  b.  August   16,   1802;    m.  Antoinette  Gregory, 

1823;    d.  May  12,  1858. 

3.  James^  b.  December  4,  1804;   m.  Sarah  Wand,  April  10, 

1838;    d.  February  22,  1871. 

4.  Sarah^  b.  September  12,  1806;   m.  Rev.  Cornelius  Gates, 

November    27,     1827;     d.,     Philadelphia,     November 
30,  1855. 

5.  Jane^  b.   November   14,'  1808 ;    m.   Peter  McNaughton, 

M.  D.,  1836;    d.  March  15.  1889. 


Albany    McElroys  lOl 

6.  Eleanor^  b.  June  12,  181 1  ;  m.  John  Dorr,  attorney,  1838  ; 

d.  November  13,  1883. 

7.  SamueP  d.  in  infancy. 

Another  family  comes  now  within  our  view. 
At  Shaw's  Loch,  County  Armagh,  Thomas  McElroy  and  wife 
Mary  (McCullough)  had  their  residence.     Their  children  were: 

James.^ 

Robert.2 

Thomas.^ 

Alexander.^ 

Elizabeth.^ 

John.2 

Susan.^ 

Alexander  b.  1760;  m.  Jane  Irving  (or  Irvine),  September 
25,  1783,  living  at  Mary  Lane,  in  Ireland,  and  came  to  America 
about  181 1.  He  bought  land  and  opened  a  farm  at  Newton, 
Oneida  County,  a  few  miles  northwest  of  Rome,  N.  Y.,  where  he 
spent  most  of  his  days.    Died  August  16,  1847. 

Children  of  Alexander  and  Jane  McElroy. 


9 
10 


Agnes^  m.  Samuel  Stevenson. 
Mary^  m.  James  K.  McElroy. 
William^  m.  Esther  Austin. 
Eleanor^  m.  Alex.  Frazier. 
Susan^  m.  Abram  Goodrich. 

Thomas^  b.  February  12,  1799;    m.  Margaret  McElroy 

(Samuel). 
Jane^  m.  William  L.  Piatt ;    d.  August,  1872. 
James^  m.  Cordelia  Richardson;    d.  1847. 
Alexander^  d.  in  infancy. 
Elizabeth^  d.  young. 


102  Scotch-Irish    McElroys 

Chldren  of  John  Hyde  and  Mary^  McElroy. 

Sarah.* 

Elizabeth.* 

Mary.* 

Children  of  Joseph  McBurney  and  Eleanor^  McElroy. 

1.  Jane*  m.  Mcllvaine.     Her  son,  Glendenning/  Episcopal 

clergyman,  Ohio. 

2.  Elizabeth*  m.  Dr.  Craig,  Ogdensburgh. 

3.  Ellen.* 

4.  Thomas.* 

5.  David.* 

Jane*  daughter  of  Eleanor*  (McElroy)  and  Dr.  David  Martin, 
m.  Rev.  Chauncey  Webster. 

Sarah  Jane*  daughter  of  Sarah*  (McElroy)  Campbell,  m. 
Ogden  N.  Chapin,  Albany. 

The  Children  of  James*  McElroy  (James,^  David^),  who  m. 
Eleanor  Russell,  were :    Jane,*  Peter.* 

Children  of  Robert*  McElroy  (James,^  David^).  who  m. 
Jane  McCullom : 

1.  Joseph  Randall.*     Settled  in  California. 

2.  Robert.*     A  Methodist  minister.     Settled  in  California. 

3.  Mary*  m.  English. 

Children  of  Jane*  McElroy  (Samuel.-  David^)  and  Dr.  Peter 

McNaughton. 

1.  Eleanor  b.  November   16,   1837,  Scottsville,  N.  Y. ;    d. 

1858. 

2.  Catharine  b.  Scottsville,  N.  Y. 

3.  Sarah  Jane  b.  Scottsville ;   m.  Dr.  D.  Stuart  Allen,  June 

28,  1888. 


Albany    McElroys  103 

Children  of  Eleanor^  McElroy  (Samuel,^  David^)  and  John 

Dorr. 

1.  Jane  Ann  b.  Scottsville,  N.  Y.,  December  23,  1841 ;  d. 

July  29,  1884. 

2.  Eleanor  b.  April  25,  1844,  at  Scottsville,  N.  Y. 

3.  Samuel  Hobart  b.  at  Scottsville,  N.  Y.,  July  8,  1850. 

Children   of  Agnes^   McElroy    (Alexander,-   Thomas^)    and 
Samuel  Stevenson. 


Mary  Jane*  m.  Rev.  Taylor,  Evans'  Center,  N.  Y. 

James  Thomas*  m.  Louisa  Wright,  Albany. 

Alexander.* 

Margaret.* 

William*  m.  Mary  A.  Betts.     New  York. 

Samuel.* 

George.* 


James  K.^  McElroy  (John,-  Thomas^)  b.  in  Ireland,  1780,  at 
Ratharbury,  County  Armagh.  His  mother  was  Hannah  Kil- 
patrick.  He  came,  a  young  man,  to  New  York  City,  where  he  was 
m.  about  1809,  to  his  cousin,  Mary  McElroy,  daughter  of  Alexan- 
der,^ and  older  sister  of  Thomas,^  she  having  come  from  Ireland 
to  marry  him.  They  lived  in  New  York  City.  The  wife  d.  June 
22,  1822,  leaving  two  sons.  The  husband  afterward  m.  Esther, 
widow  of  his  first  wife's  brother,  William.  They  resided  in  later 
years  at  Trenton  Village,  Oneida  County,  N.  Y. 

Children  of  James  K.  McElroy. 

By  his  first  wife,  Mary : 

1.  William*  who  lived  and  d.  in  New  York  City. 

2.  John*  b.  in  New  York,  April  4,  1812;  d.  Delaware,  Ohio, 

1889. 
By  second  wife,  Esther: 

3.  James*  who  resided  in  Binghamton,  N.  Y. 

4.  Thomas,*  also  at  Binghamton,  N.  Y. 

5.  Charles*  A.     Columbus,  Ohio. 


104  Scotch-Irish    M c  Elroys 

William^  McElroy  (Alexander,-  Thomas^)  m.  Esther  Austin. 
Was  a  civil  engineer.  Resident  engineer,  Erie  canal,  middle 
division,  and  later  engineer  Delaware  Breakwater.  Died  before 
middle  age,  leaving  two  daughters,  Agnes*  and  Elizabeth.* 

SusAN^  McElroy  (Alexander,^  Thomas^)  m.  Abram  Goodrich. 
Their  children : 


Susan.* 

Alexander  M.*  m.  Hannah  Lord. 

Elizabeth*  m.  Stephen  Salisbury. 

Jane.* 

Thomas*  m.  Jane  Blodgett. 

Charles.* 

Abram.* 


Thomas^  McElroy  (Alexander,^  Thomas^)  b.  February  12, 
1799;  m.  Margaret  McElroy^  (Samuel,-  David^).  Thomas  was 
rodman  and  assistant  engineer  on  Erie  canal.  Later  and  during 
a  long  life  he  was  a  merchant  in  Albany.  He  was  widely  and 
favorably  known,  a  man  of  means,  public  spirit  and  benevolence, 
elder  in  the  Dutch  Reformed  Church  twenty-six  years,  a  friend 
and  liberal  patron  of  the  American  Bible  Society.  He  was  Col- 
lector of  the  Port  under  President  William  H.  Harrison,  alderman 
of  his  ward  for  many  years,  school  commissioner,  and  one  of  the 
founders  and  trustees  of  the  Albany  Medical  College.  He  d.  in 
his  eighty-third  year,  October  21,  1881,  killed  by  a  railroad  train 
as  he  was  crossing  the  track  at  the  Albany  Cemetery.  His  wife, 
who  was  b.  November  11,  1800,  survived  her  husband  almost 
two  years,  her  death  occurring  September  8,  1883. 

Children  of  Thomas  and  Margaret  McElroy. 

1.  Samuel*  b.  at  Albany,  October  4,  1825.     Civil  engineer. 

Brooklyn. 

2.  Jane*  b.  at  Albany,  May  i.  1828;  m.  S.  M.  Shaw,  editor, 

Cooperstown,  N.  Y. 


-»«% 


Thomas  McElrov,"  of  Albany,  1799-1881 

Alexandei%-  Thomas^ 


Albany    McElroys  105 

3.  Eleanor*  b.  at  Albany,  July  21,  1830. 

4.  Alexander*  b.  July  i,  1832.    Civil  engineer.    Died  1892. 

5.  Thomas  Irving*  b.  February  12,  1834.    A  soldier  in  New 

York  regiments  during  civil  war;  Assistant  Secretary 
to  Admiral  Worden,  Pacific  squadron.  Died  at  Callao, 
1868. 

6.  Margaret*  b.  January  25,  1836;  d.  August  8,  1851. 

Jane^  McElroy  (Alexander,^  Thomas^)  m.  William  L.  Piatt, 
descendant  of  Piatt  family,  Plattsburgh,  N.  Y.  He  d.  1864.  His 
wife  d.  1872.     Their  children  : 

1.  Eliza*  b.  at  Remsen,  Oneida  County,  May  23,  1825;    d. 

1826. 

2.  John    B.*  b.   December    i,    1826;    m.   Elmira    Shaver, 

Canandaigua,   September  30,  1857. 

3.  Mary  Louisa*  b.  May  2,  1829;  m.  Daniel  Polly,  May  20, 

1852.     Alder  Creek. 

4.  Abbie*  b.  February  11,  1851  ;  m.  George  S.  Van  Vorhees, 

November  4,  1866.    Alder  Creek. 

5.  Jane  I.*  b.  January  31,  1835.     Trenton.    Married  James 

P.  Scott,  July  I,  1858.    Plattsburgh. 

6.  James  McElroy*  b.  August  21,  1836.     Trenton. 

7.  Chauncey  Alex.*  b.  March  13,  1838.     Boonville. 

8.  William  A.*  b.  August  9,  1840.  Boonville.    Married  Julia 

H.  Holcomb,  April  i,  1870.     Sherburne. 

James^  McElroy  (Alexander,^  Thomas^)  m.  Cordelia  Richard- 
son ;    d.  1847.     Their  children : 

1.  James*  b.  New  Hartford,  N.  Y.,  July,  1832;    m.  Julia 

McGaughey,  Cleveland. 

2.  William*  Henry  b.  New  Hartford,  1838;  d.  1845. 

Samuel*  McElroy  (Thomas,^  Samuel,^  David^)  b.  at  Albany, 
October  4,  1825.    A  distinguished  civil  engineer.    Connected  with 


io6  Scotch-Irish    McElroys 

United  States  Engineer  G>rps,  designing  engineer,  Brooklyn 
water  works ;  engineer  of  various  water  works,  canals,  harbor 
works,  and  railways ;  prominent  expert  in  water  power  and  other 
cases.  In  recent  years  he  was  the  oldest  hydraulic  engineer  in 
practice  in  the  United  States.  He  d.  at  his  Brooklyn  residence, 
from  heart  trouble,  December  lo,  1898,  aet.  seventy-three,  and 
was  buried  in  Albany.  Married,  February  i,  1848,  Catharine 
Knapp,  of  Albany,  a  descendant  of  the  Clark,  Haring  and  Kip 
families  of  New  York. 

Children  of  Samuel  and  C.xtharine  McElroy. 

1.  Irving^  b.  Albany,  January  19,  1849;   ^n.,  July  17,  1873, 

Kate  P.  Williams. 

2.  Samuel  Haring^  b.  Albany,  May  12,  185 1  ;   m.  Grace  E. 

Fish,  May  10,  1876. 

3.  Mary  Haring^  b.  New  York  City,  March  9.  1854. 

4.  Margaret  Sokoloflf^  b.  May  18,  1857,  Brooklyn ;   d.  Aug- 

ust 14,  1857. 

5.  Kate  Knapp^  b.  April   18,   1865,  Brooklyn;    m.  Albert 

Banker,  October,  1884. 

Alexander*  McElroy  (Thomas,^  Samuel, ^  David^)  b.  July 
I,  1832;  m.  Rebecca  Adams,  Lyons,  N.  Y.,  December  30,  1856. 
Civil  engineer,  Erie  canal  enlargement,  various  railways  and  other 
public  works.     Died  at  Pittsburgh,  1892. 

Their  Children. 

1.  Mary  Hamilton'^  b.  June  13.  1858,  Lyons.  N.  Y. ;  m.  W. 

A.   Gangweyer,  attorney.   Burlington,   N.   J. 

2.  Georgia  Lewis^  b.  March  18,  1862,  Brooklyn ;    d.  1865. 

3.  James  Adams^  b.  September  15,  1864.     Walden,  N.  Y. 

Died  August  10,  1877. 

4.  Grace  Alexander^  b.  July  22,  1870.     Brooklyn. 

John*  McElroy  (James  K.,^  John.-  ThomasM  b.  New  York, 
April  4,  1812;    m.,  November  2,  1832,  Maria  Gilbert  Blinn,  of 


Albany    McElroys  107 

Trenton,  N.  Y.  His  business  was  that  of  wagon  and  carriage 
making.  In  1834  he  removed  to  Delaware,  Ohio,  which  proved 
to  be  his  permanent  home.  He  was  a  member  from  the  age  of 
thirteen  in  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  was  for  many  years  an 
elder  in  the  Delaware  church.  He  was  five  times  a  delegate  to 
the  Presbyterian  General  Assembly,  including  the  Reunion 
Assembly  of  1869.     He  d.  at  Delaware,  September  i,  1889. 

Children  of  John  and  Maria  McElroy. 

1.  Ervin  Butler^  b.  August  6,  1835.  Unmarried.    California. 

2.  Amelziah  Hovey''  b.  July  22,  1836. 

3.  Milo  Gilbert^  b.   February  4,    1842 ;    d.    1890,   leaving 
some  family. 

4.  Mary  Ellen^  b.  August  7,  1847;    d  January  9,  1851. 

5.  Stella  May^  b.  June  10,  1852. 

Irving^  McElroy  (Samuel,*  Thomas,*  Alexander,^  Thomas^) 
b.  Albany,  January  19,  1849.  Educated,  public  school,  Brooklyn, 
N.  Y.,  Trinity  school.  New  York,  St.  Stephen's  College,  Annan- 
dale,  and  the  General  Theological  Seminary,  New  York  City. 

He  took  Bachelor's  Degree  in  1870,  and  that  of  Master  of  Arts, 
1873.  Ordained  deacon,  January  29,  1873,  by  Bishop  Littlejohn, 
and  priest,  May  31,  1874.  During  the  past  twenty-seven  years 
he  has  been  busily  employed  in  the  duties  of  his  sacred  calling; 
on  duty  in  the  City  and  State  of  New  York,  in  Baltimore,  in 
Washington  City,  and  for  seven  years  in  Iowa  and  North  Dakota, 
where  he  was  Archdeacon  and  Bishop's  assistant.  Since  1897 
he  has  been  curate  of  St.  James',  New  York  City.  Married  ist, 
July  7,  1873,  Kate  P.  Williams,  Fordham,  New  York  City,  who 
d.  August  9,  1893;  2d,  Mrs.  Grace  W.  Birch,  Fordham,  July 
17,  1898. 

Children  of  Rev.  Irving  and  Kate  P.  McElroy. 

I.     Margaret  Edgar"  b.  May  30,  1874;  m.  George  Rowland 
Hill,   September    10,    1895.      They  have  a  daughter, 
Katharine  Irving"  Hill,  b.  May  24,  1896. 


io8  Scotch-Irish    Mc  Elroys 

2.  Robert''  b.  July  5,  1876;   m.  Mabel  Coulter  Ferris,  Sep- 

tember 21,  1900. 

3.  Thomas  Percy^  b.  July  4,  1877. 

4.  Mary  Howard®  b.  October  4,  1880. 

5.  George  Glenwyn®  b.  October  4,  1881 ;    d.  1882. 

Samuel  Haring^  McElroy  (Samuel,*  Thomas,^  Alexander,^ 
Thomas^)  b.  May  12,  185 1 ;  m.  Grace  E.  Fish,  May  10,  1876. 
A  civil  engineer.  Kings  County,  N.  Y.  Resides  at  Bensonhurst, 
L.  I.     Their  children: 


Georgia.^ 
Samuel  Austin.' 
Jessie®  (deceased). 
Evylyn.® 
Malcolm.® 


5- 

The  earliest  McElroy  name  that  has  come  down  to  us  is  that 
of  John,^  of  Scotland.  A  descendant,  probably  a  son  of  his,  bear- 
ing the  same  name,  with  his  wife  Jean,  lived  and  d.  in  the  southern 
part  of  County  Down,  Ireland.  His  granddaughter,  Mrs.  Stitt, 
lived  at  Kilked.    He  may  be  set  down  as  John.- 

At  Dromantine,  near  Newry,  not  far  from  Kilked,  there  is  a 
home  that  has  been  occupied  by  the  McElroys  during  four  or  five 
generations.  One  hundred  years  ago  it  was  the  home  of  a  John 
McElroy,  and  his  father  before  him  had  lived  in  the  same  house, 
and,  as  his  descendants  understand,  had  also  borne  the  name  John. 
These  two  are  probably  the  third  and  fourth  generations. 

Children    of    John    McElroy*     (John,^    John,^    John^). 

1.  William^  b.  October  28,  1796;   m.  Jane  McMullen. 

2.  John^  d.  in  Mississippi. 

3  Joseph^  d.  in  New  Orleans. 

4.  SamueP  occupies  the  old  homestead  at  Dromantine. 

5.  Richard.^     A  farmer  near  Dromantine. 

6.  James^  m.  Susanna  Evertson.     Residence,  Albany. 


William  McElkoy 

Of   Albany,    1796 — 1887 


Albany    McElroys  109 

7.  Margaret^  m.  William  Tate. 

8.  Jane^  m.  Andrew  Beatty. 

9.  Mary^  m.  A.  M.  Ligget. 

William  McElroy^  (John,*  John,^  John,^  John^)  b.  October 
28,  1796.  Came  to  America  1822.  Landed  at  Quebec,  went  to 
Philadelphia,  then  returned  north  and  found  employment  in  his 
trade  as  a  linen  weaver  at  Schaghticoke  and  other  places  in  the 
State  of  New  York,  In  1824  he  came  to  Albany  and  went  into 
business  as  a  grocer  in  company  with  Mr.  John  Ewart.  Later 
he  sold  out  and  embarked  in  the  dry  goods  trade,  in  which  he 
continued,  a  successful  merchant,  until  he  retired  from  business 
at  an  advanced  age.  He  was  an  elder  in  the  Reformed  Presby- 
terian Church  and  widely  known  and  respected.  In  1876  his 
children  and  their  families  united  in  a  celebration  of  the  grand- 
father's eightieth  anniversary.  There  were  hospitality  and  mirth, 
and  memorial  exercises  of  high  literary  character,  which  were 
greatly  enjoyed,  and  which  will  be  long  remembered.  He  d. 
November  16,  1887,  at  the  age  of  ninety-one  years. 


Children  of  William  and  Jane   (McMullen)   McElroy 

Andrew.*' 
Margaret.® 
John  E.« 
William  H.« 
Emma.® 
Charles  E.® 


Of  these,  only  three  are  now  living,  Margaret  and  John  E.,  of 
Albany,  and  William  H.,  of  New  York  City. 

William  H.  McElroy®  (William,^  John,*  John,^  John,^  John^) 
of  Albany  is  widely  known  as  a  journalist,  lecturer,  poet  and 
ready  speaker  on  important  public  occasions.  He  was  at  one  time 
editor-in-chief  of  the  Albany  Journal,  and  later  prominent  in  the 
editorial  corps  of  the  New  York  Tribune.     In  1894  he  removed 


1 10  Scotch-Irish    Mc  Elroys 

to  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  becoming  editor  of  the  Rochester  Post- 
Express.  In  1898  he  returned  to  New  York,  where  he  has  since 
resided. 

In  the  Albany  Centennial  Celebration,  several  years  since,  Mr. 
McElroy  was  the  poet  of  the  occasion.  He  has  been  honored 
with  the  merited  title  of  LL.  D.  He  has  four  children  living: 
John  Curtis,  Eloise,  Margaret  Bradford  and  one  younger. 

John  E.  McElroy^  (William,^  John,*  John,^  John,^  John^)  is 
a  well-known  citizen  and  prominent  business  man  in  Albany. 
His  wife  was  Mary  Arthur,  daughter  of  Rev.  William  Arthur, 
and  sister  of  President  Chester  A.  Arthur.  Mrs.  McElroy  was 
well-known  in  Washington  during  the  presidency  of  her  dis- 
tinguished brother,  occupying  the  position  of  "Lady  of  the  White 
House,"  and  nobly  meeting  its  responsibilities.  They  have  had 
four  children : 

1.  Mary  Cotton'  who  m.  Charles  H.  Jackson.    They  reside 

at  Boise  City,  Idaho,  where  they  have  a  large  prune 
ranch.    Their  children  are  Jessie*  and  Charles  Henry.® 

2.  William.''    An  attorney,  who  d.  several  years  since. 

3.  Jessie.'' 

4.  Charles  Edward.'' 


William  H.  McElroy,  LL.  D. 


MICHIGAN-ALBANY  McELROYS 


About  the  year  1809,  David  McElroy,  who  was  b.  near  Belfast, 
in  County  Down,  Ireland,  emigrated  with  wife  and  six  children 
to  the  United  States,  and  settled  at  Paterson,  N.  J.  The  maiden 
name  of  his  wife  was  Elizabeth  Mills  or  Milroy,  probably  the 
latter.  Some  of  his  descendants  say  that  his  place  of  birth  was 
Bellamy — perhaps  Bellamy  Hinch,  the  name  of  a  parish  and  of 
a  town  in  County  Down.  He  was  a  merchant  in  the  old  country, 
and  the  family  record  indicates  that  two  of  his  children  were  b.  in 
Limerick. 

The  family  remained  in  New  Jersey  only  two  or  three  years 
and  then  removed  to  Canada,  settling  in  the  Province  of  Ontario. 
His  children  were  twelve  in  number : 

1.  David  b.  in  Ireland  in  1798;    lived  to  be  ninety-seven 

years  old. 

2.  Barney  b.  in  Ireland  in  1800. 

3.  Francis  b.  in  Ireland  in  1802 ;   d.  in  1880,  aged  seventy- 

eight. 

4.  Andrew  b.  in  Ireland  in  1805, 

5.  John  b.  in  Limerick  in  1807 ;    lived  to  be  ninety. 

6.  Mary  b.  in  Limerick  in  1809. 

7.  Jane  b.  probably  in  New  Jersey  in  181 1. 

8.  Catharine  b.  in  Canada  in  1813. 

9.  Hiram  b.  in  Canada  in  1816. 

10.  James  b.  in  Canada  in  1818. 

11.  Sarah  b.  in  Canada  in  1820. 

12.  Elizabeth  b.  in  Canada  in  1823.     Resides  at  Woodslee, 

Ontario.      Mrs.   Henry   North — the   only   survivor   of 
her  father's  family. 
Andrew  McElroy  was  a  prominent  man  and  at  one  time  mayor 
of  Hamilton,  Can. 


112  Scotch-Irish    McElroys 

Francis  McElroy,  third  son  of  David,  m.,  in  November,  1827, 
Mary  Surerus,  of  Flamboro,  East  Ontario.  They  had  ten  chil- 
dren, all  b.  probably  in  Canada.     Their  names  were: 

Jacob*  b.  in  1828. 
Andrew*  b.  in  1831. 
David*  b.  in  1833. 
Crocket*  b.  in  1835. 
Worthy*  b.  in  1838. 
Francis*  b.  in  1841. 
William*  b.  in  1844. 
Mary*  b.  in  1846. 
Robert*  b.  in  1849. 
Wesley*  b.  in  185 1. 

The  career  of  Francis  McElroy  was  checkered,  adventurous, 
long  and  highly  honorable.  When  twelve  years  old  he  was  bound 
out  to  the  owner  of  a  cotton  factory,  and  for  a  trivial  ofifense  was 
whipped  by  a  brutal  overseer  with  a  cat-o'-nine-tails.  Soon  after 
this  he  and  a  younger  brother  ran  away  and  went  to  the  City  of 
New  York.  Later  he  worked  on  a  farm,  and  then  went  into  a 
blacksmith  shop  and  learned  the  blacksmith  trade.  At  Lockport, 
N.  Y.,  he  carried  on  smithing  business  when  the  Erie  canal  was 
being  built.  Removing  to  Dundas,  Ontario,  he  continued  in 
business,  and  to  draw  custom  kept  a  keg  of  free  whiskey  in  his 
shop.  Whiskey  was  cheap  and  he  and  almost  everybody  used  it 
freely. 

Discovering  at  length  that  he  was  on  the  high  road  to  ruin  he 
threw  the  whiskey  out  of  his  shop,  and  became  and  continued 
a  strong  temperance  man. 

When  the  rebellion  of  1835  broke  out  in  Canada,  he  was  noti- 
fied, because  of  his  sympathy  with  the  rebels,  to  leave  the  country 
within  two  days.  He  removed  with  his  family  to  Lockport,  N.  Y., 
and  finally  went  from  there  to  Texas.  In  1838  he  returned  to 
Canada,  settling  at  Gait.  From  and  after  1852,  his  residence  was 
on  Lake  Superior,  where  he  owned  a  farm  in  a  beautiful  location 
which  he  called  "The  Vale  of  Avoca." 


Michigan- Albany    M  c  Elroys  113 

He  was  a  large,  able-bodied  man,  with  unusual  power  of  endur- 
ance. He  followed  blacksmithing  more  than  fifty  years,  was  a 
great  reader,  and  had  a  wonderful  memory,  and  because  of  his 
wide  information,  and  his  familiarity  with  history  and  poetry, 
was  sometimes  called  "the  learned  blacksmith."  He  d.  in  1880, 
at  the  residence  of  his  son  Francis,  in  Lapeer,  Mich. 

Four  of  his  ten  children  are  yet  living,  viz. : 

Andrew  McElroy,  of  Marine  City,  Mich. 
Francis  McElroy,  of  Lapeer,  Mich. 
Hon.  Crocket  McElroy,  of  St.  Clair,  Mich. 
Wesley  McElroy,  of  Windsor,  Ontario. 

Crocket*  McElroy,  fourth  son  of  Francis,  and  grandson  of 
David,  who  came  to  Paterson,  N.  J.,  was  b.  in  Dundas,  Can.,  in 
1835.  His  school  studies  were  pursued  at  Gait,  Ontario,  and  in 
Detroit.  He  was  m.  at  the  age  of  eighteen  at  Ira,  Mich.,  to  Miss 
Julia  Chartier.  The  lower  rounds  of  the  ladder  he  has  been  climb- 
ing were :  grocer's  clerk,  store  keeping,  school  teaching  and 
justice  of  the  peace.  Mercantile,  manufacturing  and  vessel  inter- 
ests gradually  opened  up  to  him  and  have  occupied  his  attention 
with  eminent  success  and  usefulness,  at  New  Baltimore,  Marine 
City  and  St.  Clair  to  the  present  time.  He  has  served  as  mayor 
of  St.  Clair,  and  was  for  two  terms  Senator  in  the  Michigan 
Legislature.  He  is  a  man  of  active  mind  and  wide  information, 
with  literary  tastes  and  capabilities  of  a  high  order.  He  wields  a 
facile  pen,  and  is  an  orator  of  more  than  ordinary  power. 

The  children  of  Crocket  and  Julia  McElroy  are  twelve  in  num- 
ber, as  follows : 

1.  Frank  McElroy,  of  Detroit. 

2.  Julia  McElroy,  deceased. 

3.  Mrs.  Mary  Lamon,  Millington,  Mich. 

4.  Victoria. 

5.  Andrew. 

6.  Margaret. 

7.  David  Crocket.     St.  Clair,  Mich. 


114  Scotch-Irish    M c Elroys 


8 
9 

lO 

II 

12 


Carrie  McElroy.    St.  Clair,  Mich. 

Worthy,  wife  of  Rev.  G.  N.  Kennedy,  Flint,  Mich. 

Mrs.  Flora  Beck.     Detroit,  Mich. 

Mrs.  Etta  Recor.     St.  Clair,  Mich. 

Grace  McElroy.     St.  Clair,  Mich. 


Frank  McElroy,  son  of  Crocket  and  grandson  of  Francis, 
resides  in  Detroit.  He  was  mayor  of  Marine  City  in  1887,  and 
representative  in  the  Michigan  Legislature  in  1889.  In  1893  he 
was  a  commissioner  attending  the  Presbyterian  General  Assembly 
in  Washington  City,  representing  the  Presbytery  of  Detroit. 

He  m.,  in  1885,  Miss  Susie  Robertson,  daughter  of  Capt.  John 
Robertson,  of  Marine  City.  The  Robertsons  were  related  to 
Robert  Edwards,  of  Wales,  of  Edwards'  estate  fame.  Three 
children  have  been  given  them : 

Harry  R.    Now  deceased. 
Frances  Pauline,  aged  six. 
John  Burnham,  aged  four. 

The  above  information  in  regard  to  the  Michigan  McElroys 
comes  from  Frank  McElroy,  of  Detroit.    He  writes :  "My  grand-  ■ 

father  often  spoke  about  relatives  in  this  country.     He  used  to- 
say  he  had  some  uncles  in  Albany,  N.  Y." 

We  conclude  that  David,  who  came  to  Paterson,  N.  J.,  was  a  I 

brother  to  James  and  Samuel,  of  Albany,  and  have  set  forth  the 
genealogy  in  that  way. 


LANCASTER  COUNTY  (PA.)  McELROYS 


Shortly  before  the  Revolutionary  war  two  young  men,  brothers, 
Daniel  and  James  McElroy,  came  from  County  Donegal,  in  North 
Ireland,  not  remote  from  Coleraine,  where  other  McElroys 
resided,  and  settled  in  Lancaster  County,  Pa.,  near  what  is  now 
New  Holland.  They  m.  sisters,  natives  of  Glasgow,  Scotland, 
by  the  name  of  Wishart.  Daniel  m.  Rebecca,  and  James  m.  Sarah 
Wishart.  The  name  carries  us  back  to  the  times  of  John  Knox, 
and  recalls  Knox's  spiritual  father,  George  Wishart^  who  suffered 
martyrdom  at  St.  Andrews,  March  i,  1546. 

The  father  of  these  two  McElroy  wives  fought  and  was 
wounded  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution^  and  received  a  pension 
from  the  Government ;  and  their  husbands,  Daniel  and  James 
McElroy,  were  also  Revolutionary  soldiers.  Both  of  them  lived 
and  d.  in  Lancaster  County,  and  each  had  a  family  of  nine  chil- 
dren— four  sons  and  five  daughters  in  each. 

Children  of  Daniel  and  Rebecca   (Wishart)   McElroy. 

1.  Eliza  b.  August  19,  1798;  d.  1875. 

2.  Archibald,  merchant,  Philadelphia.    Born  April  20,  1800,* 

d.  August  27,  1875. 

3.  Sarah  b.  July  29,  1802. 

4.  James  b.  December  29,  1804;   d.  January  25,  1888. 

5.  Martha  b.  August  29,  1807;   d.  1875. 

6.  Mary  A.,  b.  January  29,  1810. 

7.  Rebecca  b.  August  17,  1813;   m.  Benj.  F.  Hill.    A  mar- 

ried daughter  and  two  or  three  sons  reside  at  Prophet's 
Town,  111. 

8.  William  J.,  b.  December  11,  181 5. 

9.  George  W.,  b.  July  23,  1818. 


ii6  Scotch-Irish    Mc  Elroys 

Archibald^  McElroy.  Merchant  in  Philadelphia.  Born  April 
20,  1800;  m.,  October  8,  1828,  Sophia  Maria  Repplier.  who  was 
b.  1804,  and  d.  October  27,  1886. 

Children  of  Archibald  and  Sophia  McElroy. 

1.  Anna  Catharine  b.  September  18,  1829;    d.  March  28, 

1894. 

2.  Louisa  Rebecca  b.  December  21,  1831  ;    m.  William  M. 

Beckley,  M.  D.,  now  deceased.  They  have  three  chil- 
dren:   William,  George  and  Annie  M. 

3.  Charles  Repplier  b.  August  4,  1833 ;   d.  June,  1850. 

4.  Ellen  Eliza  b.  February  8,  1835. 

5.  Thomas  Elmo  b.  October  21,  1836;   d.  February  6,  1874. 

6.  Daniel  Repplier  b.  November  30.  1838  ;  d.  June  23,  1866. 

7.  John  George  Repplier  b.  June  30,  1842 ;    d.  November 

26,  1890. 

8.  Joseph  Repplier  b.  December  9,  1844. 

James^  McElroy  (Daniel^)  b.  December  29,  1804;  d.  January 
25,  1888,  at  Alexandria,  Huntingdon  County,  Pa. ;  m.,  June  5, 
1837,  Rebecca  Keith,  who  was  b.  October  14,  1818. 

Children  of  James  and  Rebecca  McElroy. 

1.  Mary  Jane  b.  April  22,  1838;    m.,  September  29,  1872, 

B.  S.  Rumberger,  who  is  at  the  present  time  (1900) 
sheriff  of  Huntingdon  County,  residing  at  Huntingdon, 
Pa.     They  have  two  sons : 

James  McElroy  b.  August  9,  1873. 
Walter  Wray  b.  April  13,  1876. 

2.  Mattie  Elizabeth  b.  Huntingdon  County,  Pa.,  October  8, 

1839 ;  m.,  Vinton,  Iowa,  March  3,  1859,  ^y  R^v.  James 
Kirk,  Abraham  A.  Gerberich,  who  was  b.  February  25, 
1834,  in  Lebanon  County,  Pa.  She  d.  November  25, 
1896.    He  d.  August  7,  1879.    Their  children : 

(i)     Ella  H.   b.  March  18,  1861  ;   d.  May  10,  1879. 


William  W.  H.  McElkoy 


Lancaster   County    (Pa.)    M cElroys  117 

(2)  Jennie  E.  b.  April  3,  1864;   d.  April  19,  1864. 

(3)  William    C.  b.    December    8,    1865;    m.,  May    9,  1899, 
Blanche  Brooks,  Cedar  Rapids. 

(4)  Anna  Louisa  b.  July  6,  1867 ;  m.  May  9,  1893,  William  F. 
Bacon;  d.  November  4,  1896. 

(5)  Charles  E.  b.  April  21,  1870;  m.,  June  14,  1899,  Amy  E. 
Sawyer. 

(6)  Frank  L.  b.  October  2y,  1871  ;  m.,  October  5,  1898,  Har- 
riet L.  Butterfield. 

Marion  G.  Bacon,  grandchild,  b.  September  12,  1896. 

3.  Hays  Hamilton  b.  April  13,  1841 ;  m.  Sarah  Maria  Red- 

field,  October  13,  1864,  who  was  b.  March  26,  1864. 
He  is  a  hardware  merchant  at  Vinton,  Iowa.     They 
have  two  children : 
(i)     Winnifred  Price  b.  March  30,  1866;   m..  May  23,  1888, 
David  Charles  Main,  a  banker.    Wayne,  Neb. 

(2)     George    Dexter    b.    July    i,    1868.      Assistant    Cashier 
Farmers'  National  Bank,  Vinton,  Iowa. 

4.  Rebecca  Wishart  b.  May  12,  1843;   d.  April  2,  1844. 

5.  Susan  Alice  b.  January  20,   1845  J    m-  J-  A.  Newling, 

December  26,  1867;    d.  December  19,  1869. 

6.  Anna  Rebecca  b.  May  2y,  1847;  "!•»  December  12,  1867, 

J.  J.  Shirk,  of  Tyrone,  Pa. ;  d.  March  12,  1876,  leaving 
five  children :  Anna,  Minnie,  Ella  and  Maimie,  who  are 
single,  and  Grace,  wife  of  John  W.  Cox,  and  mother 
of  Hazel,  Ruth  and  Ethel. 

7.  James  Stevens  b.  July  7,  1849;   d.  April  13,  1885. 

8.  Cassandra  Gibson  b.  November  22,  1851. 

9.  George  Scott  b.  November  25,  1853. 

10.  Ellen  Keith  b.  December  25,  1855  ;  m.  George  W.  Eichel- 

berger,  April  17,  1878.  He  d.  September,  1882,  leav- 
ing two  sons:  James  Cloyd  b.  November,  1879,  and 
Marion  b.  September,  188 1. 

11.  WilHam  Watkins  Hicks  b.  July   11,   1858.     Is  deputy 

sheriff  Huntingdon  County,  Pa.     Married  Anna  Mary 


ii8  Scotch-Irish    Mc Elroys 

Ayres,  June  21,  1886.     Three  children  d.  in  infancy; 

two  survive : 
Winifred  Wray  b.  October  11,  1877. 
Rebecca  Irvin  b.  September  3,  1894. 

George   W.  McElroy^  (DanieF)  b.    July   23,    1818;    m.  ist, 
2d,  ;    d.  November  i,  1887.     A  lawyer  at  York, 


Pa.    Mayor,  district  attorney,  soldier,  three  years  in  Union  army. 
His  children: 

1.  Horace  b.  1853.     Graduate  United  States  Naval  Acad- 

emy.   Attorney,  Janesville,  Wis. 

2.  Robert  J.  F.    Lawyer,  now  in  United  States  Land  office, 

Washington,  D.  C. 

3.  George  A.     York,  Pa.     Telephone  Company. 

4.  Sarah  E.    York,  Pa.    Cashier. 

5.  Samuel  S.,  printer,  and  Grace  E.,  teacher.     York,  Pa. 

6.  John  B.     United  States  Hospital  Corps,  at  Zamboango, 

P.  L 

7.  Daniel  W.    Stenographer,  S.  P.  R.  R.  Co.    Los  Angeles, 

Cal. 

JoHN^  George  Repplier  McElroy  (Archibald,^  DanieF)  b. 
June  30,  1842;  d.  November  26,  1890;  m.,  November  2,  1869,  in 
Philadelphia,  Anna  Baldwin  Clayton,  who  was  b.  November  2, 
1847;   d.  August  31,  1897. 

John  G.  R.  McElroy  graduated  from  the  University  of  Pennsyl- 
vania in  1862,  and  received  the  degree  of  A.  M.  later  from  the 
same  institution.  He  taught  in  the  City  of  Chicago  for  a  time 
and  in  1867  became  Assistant  Professor  of  Rhetoric  and  History 
in  his  Alma  Mater.  Two  years  later  he  became  Assistant  Pro- 
fessor in  Greek  and  History.  After  seven  years'  service  he  was 
promoted  to  the  Professorship  of  Greek  and  the  English  language, 
which  position  he  retained  until  his  death  in  1890.  He  was  a 
very  genial  man  and  a  popular  and  successful  teacher.  He  was 
author  of  "The  Structure  of  English  Prose,"  and  of  numerous 
articles  in  philological  journals. 


Lancaster  County    (Pa.)    M c Elroys  119 

Children  of  Prof.  John  G.  R.  and  Anna  McElroy. 

1.  Clayton*  McElroy  b.  September  4,  1872;   m.,  November 

10,  1896,  Margaret  Jolliffe  Crenshaw,  who  was  b.  July 
6,  1874.  Their  son,  Clayton^  McElroy,  jr.,  was  b. 
January  28,  1898. 

2.  Katharine*    Allgaire    m.    November    26,  1899,  Seth    B. 

Capp. 

Joseph  Repplier^  McElroy  (Archibald,^  Daniel^)  b.  Decem- 
ber 9,  1844;  m.  Annie  Burkhart  Sellers,  who  was  b.  January  28, 
1848.     Their  children: 

1.  Archibald  b.  December  30,  1878;   d.  June  16,  1879. 

2.  Rebecca  Bird  McElroy  b.  January  16,   1883. 

Children  of  James  and   Sarah    (Wishart)    McElroy, 
of  Lancaster  County,  Pa. 

1.  Samuel  d.  at  Mifflin,  Pa.,  leaving  two  children. 

2.  James  d.  young  in  1823. 

3.  David  d.  at  or  near  Pittsburgh,  leaving  a  large  family. 

4.  Thomas  m.  and  went  west.    Lived  in  Ohio,  then  in  Iowa, 

and  d.  near  Lincoln,  Neb. 

5.  Jane  d.  single. 

6.  Martha  m.,  resided  and  d.  in  Lancaster  County. 

7.  Margaret  m.,  resided  and  d.  in  Lancaster  County. 

8.  Sarah  m.,  resided  and  d.  in  Lancaster  County. 

9.  Elizabeth  b.  January  25,   1819.      Joined    the    Mormon 

Church  when  twenty  years  old  in  1839,  entered  the 
Mormon  community  at  Nauvoo,  111.,  in  1845  !  was  with 
them  in  their  long  journey  across  the  State  of  Iowa,  and 
across  the  plains  to  Salt  Lake,  where  she  has  resided 
ever  since.  On  that  journey  she  was  m.,  in  1848,  near 
the  Missouri  River,  to  Jacob  Weiler,  known  in  later 
years  as  Bishop  Weiler,  who  d.  in  March,  1896,  at  the 
age  of  eighty-eight.  Mrs.  Weiler  is  the  last  survivor 
among  the  eighteen    children  of    the  two    McElroy 


120  Scotch-Irish    Mc Elroys 

families  in  Lancaster  County.  For  a  woman  in  her 
seventy-eighth  year  she  writes  a  remarkably  clear  and 
satisfactory  letter.  She  has  the  distinction  of  being, 
so  far  as  we  know,  the  only  one  of  Covenanter  lineage 
and  McElroy  name  who  carries  the  name  Mormon. 
How  many  sister  widows  share  her  grief  over  the  loss 
of  their  one  husband  we  do  not  know. 


DELAWARE  STATE  McELROYS 

James  and  Hugh. 

Shortly  after  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  war,  probably  in 
1784,  James  McElroy  and  two  sisters — all  unmarried — came  to 
America  from  the  Parish  of  Bally-na-hinch,  in  County  Down, 
Ireland.  They  had  no  brothers,  and  their  parents  had  recently 
died.  With  them  came,  from  the  same  place,  a  cousin,  Hugh 
McElroy. 

Arriving  at  Philadelphia,  they  turned  their  faces  southward 
and  settled  in  Delaware. 

They  remained  there  some  eight  years  and  m.  there.  James  m. 
Nancy  A.  Smith,  while  Hugh  m.  one  of  his  McElroy  cousins. 

Soon  after  1790  they  removed  westward  and  settled  in  Wash- 
ington County,  Pa.,  about  ten  miles  from  the  town  of  Washing- 
ton. Their  post  office  is  believed  to  have  been  Shelby.  Both  of 
them  continued  there  for  some  years  and  had  families.  Of  the 
history  of  Hugh  and  family  our  information  is  very  meager.  One 
of  his  sons  we  are  told  settled  some  place  in  Northern  Ohio,  and 
another  located,  many  years  since,  in  Philadelphia. 

James  McElroy  had  six  sons.  The  eldest,  William,  was  b.  in 
Pennsylvania  in  1793.  The  other  sons  were:  Glasby,  Henry, 
James,  John  and  Alexander. 

The  family  removed  in  181 6  to  Morgan  County,  Ohio,  where 
the  father  d.  some  years  later. 

William  and  family  removed  to  the  State  of  Indiana  in  1837, 
where  he  d.  in  1872,  aged  seventy-nine.  A  son  of  his,  J.  S. 
McElroy,  b.  in  1834,  is  an  elder  in  the  Presbyterian  Church  at 
Missouri  Valley,  Iowa,  having  moved  to  Iowa  in  1855. 


•122  Scotch-Irish    Mc Elroys 

Rev.  James  C.  McElroy. 

John,  son  of  James  McElroy,  resided  in  Morgan  County,  Ohio, 
and  was  the  father  of  five  sons,  viz. :  James  C,  William,  Stephen 
C,  Calvin  G.  and  John  L. 

James  C.  McElroy,  eldest  son  of  John,  and  grandson  of  James, 
was  b.  in  Morgan  County,  Ohio,  October  i8,  183 1.  Studied  at 
Hanover  College,  Indiana,  and  at  the  Western  Theological  Semi- 
nary. Was  a  soldier,  first  lieutenant  in  the  Thirteenth  Kansas 
Infantry,  from  July,  1862,  to  the  close  of  the  war. 

He  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Fairfield,  at  Summit, 
Iowa,  in  1868,  and  has  been  a  diligent  and  faithful  home  mis- 
sionary in  Iowa  and  Kansas  to  the  present  time.  His  first  wife 
was  a  Miss  Paxton,  daughter  of  Rev.  J.  D.  Paxton,  D.  D.,  of 
Beyrout,  Syria.  His  present  wife  was  Miss  Eunice  E.  Greer,  of 
Murrysville,  Pa.  They  reside  in  Topeka,  Kan.  They  have  one 
child.  Miss  Abigail  C.  McElroy,  a  graduate  of  Oswego  Female 
College,  and  now  engaged  in  teaching. 


BRADDOCK    (PA.)    McELROYS 


William  McElroy  of  Braddock,  Pa.,  is  a  son  of  John  McElroy, 
of  Tempo,  Fermanagh  County,  Ireland.  He  lived  at  Lisburn, 
County  Down,  two  years,  and  in  Belfast  four  years.  In  1891  he 
m.  Miss  Sarah  McElroy,  whose  father  resided  at  Omagh,  County 
Tyrone.  Her  brothers,  John  and  William,  and  sisters,  Lizzie  and 
Anna,  live  at  Braddock.  Two  married  sisters,  Mrs.  Mary  Dodds 
and  Mrs.  Jane  Dodds,  reside  in  Allegany,  Pa. 


Rev.  James  C.  McEluoy 

John-,    James^ 


LiGONiER  (PA.)  Mcelroys 

About  the  year  1787  James  McElroy,  from  County  Down,  came 
to  Philadelphia,  and  subsequently  located  in  Chester  County,  Pa. 
He  had  been  preceded  a  year  or  two  or  three  by  a  brother  from 
County  Down  whom  he  greatly  desired  to  find.  His  descendants, 
a  hundred  years  later,  tell  us  their  grandfather  inquired  and 
hunted  for  that  brother  far  and  near  and  never  found  him.  It 
was  probably  for  that  reason  that  he  located  where  he  did,  some 
miles  west  from  Philadelphia,  and  on  the  main  route  traveled  by 
Scotch-Irish  immigrants  who  journeyed  toward  the  frontier. 

It  is  highly  probable  that  the  lost  brother  was  the  Hugh  already 
spoken  of  settling  in  the  State  of  Delaware.  There  were  no  tele- 
graphs, no  daily  papers,  no  daily  mails,  no  cables  and  no  kind  of 
steam  transportation  in  those  days.  Hugh  might  almost  as  well 
have  been  in  Algiers  as  in  Delaware,  so  far  as  James's  finding  him 
was  concerned. 

James  m.  Betsy  Douglass  and  three  children  were  given  them 
while  in  Chester  County.  The  Delaware  sojourners  concluded 
to  go  to  the  far  west,  and  with  wives  and  babies  and  pack-horses 
and  a  milch  cow  or  two,  struck  out  for  Washington  County,  Pa., 
passing  some  distance  south  of  Lancaster  on  their  way  west.  Not 
long  after  this  James  and  wife  concluded  to  go  to  the  further 
west.  They  had  two  stout  horses.  On  one  of  these  the  wife  was 
mounted,  carrying  with  her  the  cooking  utensils  and  some  sup- 
plies and  the  baby.  On  the  other  horse  bedding  and  things  were 
securely  girthed,  and  on  top  a  bed  tick,  open  above,  filled  in  part 
with  clothes  and  other  movables,  and  then  two  of  the  children ; 
the  head  of  one,  seven  years  old,  bobbing  up  on  the  south  side, 
and  the  head  of  another,  five  years  old,  peering  out  on  the  north 
side.  The  father,  wearing  hunting  shirt  and  belt,  with  bridle  rein 
in  hand  and  gun  on  his  shoulder,  walked  along  side.    Thus  they 


124  Scotch-Irish    M c Elroys 

journeyed  some  200  miles,  along  bridle  paths,  across  valleys  and 
streams,  camping  at  night,  and  moving  forward  in  the  morning. 
At  length  their  long  journey  ended  in  Ligonier  Valley,  some  fifty 
miles  east  of  Pittsburgh,  where  they  and  their  descendants  found 
home  and  happiness  for  many  years.  The  sojourners  from  Dela- 
ware made  their  way  to  Washington  County,  locating  some  thirty 
miles  south  of  Pittsburgh.  And. there  the  two  brothers — if  our 
facts  and  inferences  be  correct — spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives, 
not  more  than  seventy-five  miles  apart,  each  wondering,  and  long- 
ing to  know  what  had  become  of  his  brother. 
James  and  Betsy  McElroy  had  four  children : 

1.  Joseph  Alexander,  who  m.  Jane  Parks.     They  had  one 

child.  He  lost  his  life  in  a  sudden  and  tragic  manner. 
Was  carrying  a  grain-cradle  on  horse  back.  The  horse 
took  fright  and  threw  him,  with  fatal  result. 

2.  John  Douglass  m.  Sarah  Menoher,  and  lived  and  died 

on  the  old  homestead.  He  raised  a  large  family  and 
lived  to  the  age  of  ninety-two    years. 

3.  Mary  m.  Robert  Halferty  and  had  large  family. 

4.  James  b.  in  Ligonier  Valley,  in  1799;    m.  Ruth  Nesbit, 

and  removed  to  Northern  Ohio  in  1835.  These 
McElroy  friends  have  been  identified  all  along  with 
the  United  Presbyterian — originally  Associate  or 
Seceder — Church.  The  late  Rev.  Joseph  Scroggs, 
D.  D.,  was  for  many  years  their  pastor. 
The  children  of  James  and  Ruth  McElroy  in  Ohio  were  eight 

in  number.     Two  sons  d.  young.     Four  sons  and  two  daughters 

are  living  in  1900,  viz. : 

Alexander  McElroy.     Bedford,  Ohio. 

David  McElroy.     Twinsburg,  Ohio. 

Samuel  McElroy.    Madison,  Ohio. 

James  McElroy.    Cleveland,  Ohio.    85  Ledyard  Street. 

Mrs.  P.  A.  Simmons.     Denver,  Colo. 

Mrs.  Mary  Laburty.     Prescott,  Ariz. 


Ligonier    (Pa.)    Mc Elroys  125 

Frank  McElroy  (James,*  James,^  James,'-^  James^).  Resides 
in  Cleveland.     1349  Harvard  Street. 

Of  the  descendants  of  John  Douglass  McElroy  we  have  only 
a  partial  account.  His  son,  Squire  James  McElroy,  quite  ad- 
vanced in  years,  occupies  the  old  home  at  West  Fairfield,  Pa.  Of 
his  children,  we  have  the  names  of  three: 

1.  William  Barr  McElroy  resided  at  Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa. 

Died  October  4,  1889.    Leaving  a  large  family. 

2.  James  McElroy.    West  Fairfield. 

3.  Mrs.  Fannie  Wood.     New  Florence,  Pa. 

William  Barr  McElroy  m.,  February  20,  1866,  Miss  Jennie 
Graham  Lytle. 

Children  of  William  Barr  and  Jennie  (Lytle)  McElroy. 

1.  Hugh  Lytle  m.,  June,   1896,  Anna  Benedict.     Resides 

Youngstown,  Ohio. 

2.  James  Ira. 

3.  Edward  Halferty  m.  Agnes  Mary  Shea.    They  have  three 

children. 

4.  Harry  Arthur. 

5.  William  Barr  m.,  February  20,   1900,  Maggie  Shea. 

6.  John  Francis.    Editor  of  Progressive  Farmer.     Quincy, 

111. 

7.  Ralph  Graham. 

8.  Susan  Mary. 


Rev.  W.  N.  McElroy,  D.  D. 


DESCENDANTS  OF  ADAM 


Among  the  McElroys  there  are  certain  names  that  occur  very 
frequently,  John,  James  and  WilHam.  Then  there  are  names  that 
are  unusual.  Solomon  and  Crocket  belong  to  this  class.  Now 
we  meet  with  Adam.  We  cannot  call  it  a  new  name,  nor  deny 
that  it  is  a  good  name,  nor  question  its  claim  to  respect  and 
veneration. 

Adam^  McElroy  lived  in  County  Down,  where  he  married  and 
had  a  family.  His  wife's  name  was  probably  not  Eve.  He  came 
to  America  between  1760  and  1770,  and  settled  in  Eastern 
Pennsylvania,  probably  near  Easton.  From  "Pennsylvania 
Archives"  we  learn  that  he  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary 
war.  His  son  John-  enlisted,  although  under  age,  in  Washington's 
army  as  a  musician,  filling  the  position  of  fife-major. 

Alexander,^  son  of  Adam,  came  to  America  some  years  later, 
about  1780.  His  wife  was  Mary  Donaldson  and  their  home  was 
in  Huntingdon  County,  Pa.  At  least  two  of  their  children  were 
b.  in  Ireland,  John^  and  Adam.^  Their  son  Robert^  was  b.  in 
Pennsylvania  in  1784.  Their  four  daughters  were  Mary,^  wife 
of  Robert  Taylor ;  Rachel,^  wife  of  William  Marshall,  who  lived 
near  Cleveland,  Ohio ;  Margaret,^  wife  of  John  Simpson,  and 
uncle  to  Bishop  Matthew  Simpson,  and  Mary,^  wife  of  John 
Daugherty. 

Adam  McElroy,^  jr.,  had  one  son,  and  a  daughter,  Rachel,*  who 
m.  Thomas  Hughes. 

John,^  son  of  Alexander,  and  grandson  of  Adam,  sr.,  had  two 
sons,  James*  and  John,*  and  several  daughters.  They  are  sup- 
posed to  be  residing  in  Oregon  and  California. 

Robert,^  son  of  Alexander,  and  grandson  of  Adam,  lived  in 
Harrison  County,  Ohio,  near  Cadiz,  and  had  ten  children.    Three 


128  Scotch-Irish    McElroys 

of  the  daughters  are  now  deceased,  Mary  J.,*  wife  of  Robert 
Anderson;  Lucretia*  and  Ehzabeth.*  Mrs.  Rachel  Crowner,*  of 
Holyoke,  Colo.,  and  Mrs.  Margaret  Moore,*  of  Moulton,  Iowa. 
Two  sons  are  deceased,  John  Alexander,*  who  d.  in  infancy,  and 
Joseph  W.,*  of  Rosamond,  111.,  whose  only  son,  William  H.^ 
McElroy,  lives  at  Galva,  111. 

The  three  living  sons  are  Robert  Hamilton*  McElroy,  of  Hol- 
lister,  California ;  John  A.*  McElroy,  of  South  Pullman,  Chicago, 
and  Rev.  W.  N.*  McElroy,  D.  D.,  of  Springfield,  111. 

Passing  to  the  fifth  generation,  William  N.^  McElroy,  jr.,  son 
of  Robert  Hamilton,  is  at  Gilroy,  Cal.  Francis^  and  Ray^  Mc- 
Elroy, sons  of  John  A.,  are  in  Chicago ;  and  Charles  G.^  McElroy, 
of  Peoria,  and  Robert  Walter,^  of  Springfield,  are  sons  of  Rev. 
Dr.  W.  N.  McElroy. 

Rev.  W.  N.  McElroy,  D.  D.,  was  b.  near  Cadiz,  Ohio,  in  1832. 
Came  to  Griggsville,  111.,  in  1840,  and  was  educated  in  the  public 
and  high  school  of  that  town.  After  spending  some  time  in 
teaching,  he  entered,  at  the  age  of  twenty-eight,  in  i860,  upon  the 
work  of  the  ministry  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  His 
charges  have  been  Naples,  Havana,  Shelby ville,  Blooming^on 
First,  Champaign,  Danville  First,  Decatur  First,  Grace  Church, 
Jacksonville,  and  First  Church,  of  Springfield.  He  has  been  pre- 
siding elder  in  the  various  districts  of  his  conference  sixteen 
years,  and  was  for  a  time  Acting  President  of  Illinois  Wesleyan 
University,  from  which  he  received  the  degree  of  D.  D..  He 
has  been  six  times  a  member  of  the  General  Conference.  He  was 
also  a  member  of  the  First  Ecumenical  Conference,  held  in  Lon- 
don, Eng.,  in  1881.  He  has  been  a  contributor  to  the  various 
church  papers — Advocate  and  The  Quarterly  Reviezv — for  thirty 
years  past,  and  is  now  editor  of  The  Illinois  Methodist  Journal. 
At  the  age  of  sixty-eight  he  enjoys  vigorous  health,  is  full  of 
work,  and  seems  to  know  nothing  of  any  "dead  line"  beyond 
which  he  may  not  go.  He  is  proud  of  his  Scotch-Irish  ancestry, 
and  thinks  that  next  to  being  "born  asrain"  is  to  be  well-born. 


Descendants    of    Adam  129 

Recurring  to  John  McElroy,  fife-major  in  Washington's  army: 
After  the  war  closed  he  m.  a  Miss  Baughman,  of  Easton,  Pa., 
struck  out  for  the  "Far  West,"  and  settled  at  Warrenton,  Belmont 
County,  Ohio.  He  made  the  first  survey  of  Government  lands 
in  Eastern  Ohio.  He  had  several  sons  and  daughters.  His  de- 
scendants are  now  widely  scattered,  and  of  them  we  have  no 
definite  knowledge. 


John  McElrov 

Son  ot   Adam    McElroy  —  Fife   Major  in   Washington's  Army 


MEADVILLE  (PA.)  McELROYS 

Capt.  Joseph  C.  McElroy. 

Samuel  McElroy  b.  in  Scotland  about  1743,  came  to  America 
and  settled  in  Baltimore  in  1784.  He  removed  to  Meadville  in 
1800,  where  he  d.  in  1829,  at  the  age  of  eighty-five.  From  what 
place  he  migrated  in  Scotland  we  are  not  informed. 

His  son,  John  McElroy,  was  b.  in  1784;  m.,  in  1812,  and  d. 
in  Meigs  County,  Ohio,  in  1869,  aged  eighty-five.  He  had  four 
sons  and  four  daughters. 

His  son,  grandson  of  Samuel,  Hon.  Joseph  C.  McElroy,  was  b. 
in  Meigs  County,  Ohio,  in  1831.  He  has  led  a  very  active  life, 
and  is  very  widely  and  favorably  known.  A  steamboat  man,  a 
California  miner,  a  soldier,  being  captain  in  the  Eighteenth  Ohio 
Infantry  during  the  civil  war.  After  the  war  he  was  sheriff  of 
his  county,  and  member  of  the  Ohio  Legislature. 

He  resides  at  Pumroy,  Ohio,  and  has  been  engaged  in  manu- 
facturing and  coal  mining. 

He  has  four  children  and  six  grandchildren. 

He  and  family  are  connected  with  the  Methodist  Church.  His 
son,  Rev.  B.  L.  McElroy,  D.  D.,  is  a  methodist  minister,  lately 
transferred  from  Ann  Arbor,  Mich.,  to  Columbus,  Ohio.  Captain 
McElroy  has  been  on  duty  for  two  or  three  years  past  in  Washing- 
ton City.  In  the  Fifty-fifth  Congress  he  was  doorkeeper  to  the 
House  of  Representatives,  and  in  the  present  Congress  has  the 
position  of  postmaster. 


VIRGINIA  Mcelroys 

William  McElroy  b.  in  North  Ireland  in  1798,  came  to  America 
in  1819,  when  twenty-one  years  of  age.  He  settled  in  Leesburg, 
residing  there  some  twenty  years,  then  removing  to  Charleston, 
W.  Va.  At  a  later  time  he  removed  to  Cumberland  County,  Pa., 
and  then  to  Fayetteville,  Franklin  County,where  he  resided  from 
1842  to  1876. 
At  Leesburg  he  m.  Elizabeth  Beatty.     They  had  six  children : 

Mary  Ellen  (Byers). 
John  William  McElroy. 
Robert  Fulton  McElroy. 
Josiah  Beatty  McElroy. 
Ann  Elizabeth. 
Jane. 

Robert  Fulton  McElroy,  son  of  William,  was  b.  at  Leesburg, 
Va.,  November  12,  1828.  He  m.,  in  1853,  Agnes  Jane  Renfrew, 
and  in  1866,  Miss  M.  E.  Black.  He  resides  at  Steelton,  near  Har- 
risburg.  Pa.,  where  he  is  a  member  and  elder  in  the  Presbyterian 
Church.    His  children  are : 

John  Renfrew  McElroy.     Fayetteville,  Pa. 
Josiah  Beatty  McElroy.     Philadelphia. 
Frank  Thompson  McElroy.     Steelton. 

James  McElroy,  who  came  from  North  Ireland  before  1787, 
was  among  the  early  settlers  of  Huntingdon  County,  Pa.,  residing 
in  what  is  called  Stone  Valley.  His  son,  John  McElroy,  was  b. 
in  1788.  His  grandson,  Jackson  McElroy,  was  residing  in  1896, 
in  the  town  of  Huntingdon,  Pa.  An  uncle  to  Jackson  McElroy 
used  to  reside  in  Baltimore,  but  is  now  deceased. 


134  Scotch-Irish    Mc  Elroys 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  eighteenth  century,  Daniel  McElroy, 
from  North  Ireland,  migrated  to  Virginia,  settling  according  to 
tradition,  in  Berkley  or  Loudoun  County.  His  son  Daniel  came  to 
Ohio  probably  in  1803  or  '4,  from  Petersburg,  Va.,  settling  in 
Green  County,  near  Cedarville.     He  had  three  sons : 

1.  Archibald  b.  about  1820.    Resides,  in  advanced  years,  at 

Cedarville. 

2.  John  J.  McElroy  b.  Green  County,  Ohio,  October   14, 

1827.  A  physician,  residing  at  Rossville,  111.  Was 
surgeon  of  the  125th  Illinois  Infantry  during  civil  war. 
His  only  daughter,  Netta  M.,  b.  November  i,  186 1,  is 
the  wife  of  Rev.  A.  G.  Bergen,  Cumberland  Presby- 
terian minister  at  Mattoon,  111.  His  only  son,  John 
Howard,  m.  Miss  Cora  M.  Allen,  August  31,  1899.  and 
is  an  attorney  in  Chicago. 

3.  Melancthon  McElroy.     Blairstown,  Iowa. 

4.  Alexander  b.  1837;  came  to  Paxton,  111.,  1857;  m.,  1865, 

Mary  Hanley,  who  d.    1898.     He  resides  at  Paxton. 

County  Judge  of  Ford  County.     Has  two  children : 
(i)     Mrs.  Margaret  M.  Westbrook.  of  Paxton. 
(2)     John  H.  McElroy.     A  resident  of  Chicago. 


Robert  Fulton  McElroy 


MONROEVILLE  (PA.)  McELROYS 


William  McElroy,  from  North  Ireland,  settled  near  Monroe- 
ville,  Allegheny  County,  Pa.,  some  fifteen  miles  east  of  Pittsburgh, 
at  an  early  date,  which  we  are  unable  to  give.  His  sons  were : 
John,  Thomas,  Robert  and  James.    He  had  also  three  daughters. 

Thomas  (son  of  William)  had  four  sons:  Thomas,  Johnson, 
John  and  William.  A  son  of  this  William,  grandson  of  Thomas, 
m.  Miss  Isabella  Patterson,  of  Beulah,  Westmoreland  County, 
Pa.  His  name  is  John  H.  McElroy.  He  resides  in  Oil  City,  and 
is  an  elder  in  the  Presbyterian  church. 

Robert  G.  McElroy,  son  of  Robert,  and  grandson  of  the  original 
William,  was  b.  August  2,  1832.  He  m.  Miss  Elizabeth  Donald, 
who  was  b.  January  27,  1832.  Their  marriage  occurred  March 
30,  1854.    They  have  thirteen  children,  as  follows : 

Mrs.  Phebe  M.  Loughridge. 
Mrs.  Lila  C.  Gill. 
William  Cunningham  McElroy. 
Mrs.  Nancy  K.  Warner. 
James  Donald  McElroy. 
Robert  Dunlap  McElroy. 
John  Cote  McElroy. 
Thomas  McMaster  McElroy. 
Joseph  Collins  McElroy. 
Mrs.  Sarah  G.  McFarland. 
Charles  Fetterman  McElroy. 
Orlando  Metcalf  McElroy. 
Mrs.  Mary  J.  Cameron. 

In  this  fruitful  family  there  are — in  A.  D.  1899 — an  army  of 
twenty-seven  grandchildren. 


i 


BEAVER  COUNTY  (PA.)  McELROYS 

About  the  year  1800  Matthew  McElroy  came  from  North  Ire- 
land and  settled  in  Beaver  County,  Pa.  He  removed  in  later  years 
to  Scotland,  Ind.,  and  d.  there.    He  had  three  sons : 

Alexander  b.  in  1812. 
Joseph,  of  Holmes  County,  Ohio. 

John,  who  settled  at  Pleasantville,  Iowa,  and  who  d.  at 
Indianola,  Iowa. 

Alexander  (son  of  Matthew)  had  two  sons,  viz. : 

Matthew  (2d)  b.  in  Holmes  County,  Ohio,  in  1837,  and  who 
resides  at  Percival,  Fremont  County,  Iowa. 

James  A.  McElroy.  He  settled  in  the  Northwest  corner  of 
Missouri.  Went  to  California  in  1849,  ^^^  ^-  i"  1893. 
He  left  two  sons  and  two  daughters.  The  older  son 
Gilbert  A.  McElroy  was,  in  1896,  a  student  in  the  State 
University  at  Iowa  City. 

A  New  York  Physician. 

Dr.  S.  H.  McElroy  has  been  for  some  years  a  practitioner  in 
New  York  City.  His  ancestors  were  among  the  early  settlers  at 
Scotland,  Franklin  County,  Pa.  The  details  of  their  family  his- 
tory we  have  been  unable  to  secure. 

Robert  McElroy,  of  Philadelphia 

was  b.  near  Coleraine,  at  a  place  called  Flower  Hill,  in  the  County 
of  Londonderry,  Ireland,  about  the  year  1800.  His  father,  whose 
Christian  name  we  have  not,  d.  when  Robert  was  quite  young, 
leaving  a  daughter  Mary  and  a  son  Daniel,  and  perhaps  others. 
Robert  came  to  Philadelphia  about  1820.  He  m.  a  Miss  Clements, 
a  native  of  Newton  Savilla,  in  County  Tyrone,  Ireland. 


138  Scotch-Irish    Mc Elroys 

The  ancestors  of  both  Robert  and  wife  came  from  Scotland  at 
the  time  of  the  persecutions. 

A  nephew  of  Robert,  John  McElroy,  still  resides  at  Flower  Hill. 
Two  nephews  came  to  Philadelphia  about  1850,  one  of  them, 
Robert  McElroy,  settling  in  Baltimore.  The  other,  James  Mc- 
Elroy, went  to  Australia,  where,  it  is  reported,  he  was  successful 
and  rose  to  prominence. 

Robert  McElroy  d.  in  Philadelphia  about  the  year  i860,  his 
widow  surviving  him  three  years.  They  had  three  children,  one 
of  whom  d.  in  infancy.  Their  only  son,  William  J.  McElroy, 
lived  all  his  days  in  Philadelphia.  He  was  a  lawyer  widely  known 
and  esteemed.  Di.  R.  M.  Patterson  speaks  of  him  as  "a  lawyer  of 
capital  standing  in  Philadelphia."  He  was  a  member  and  ruling 
elder  in  the  Tenth  Presbyterian  Church,  of  which  Rev.  H.  A. 
Boardman,  D.  D.,  was  pastor.  His  sudden  and  deplorable  death 
occurred  October  4,  1877,  in  a  railroad  disaster  near  Milford,  N.  J., 
occasioned  by  the  breaking  of  a  culvert  on  the  Pennsylvania  Rail- 
road in  the  midst  of  a  storm. 

He  left  a  wife  and  five  children,  two  of  whom  have  since  died. 
The  oldest,  William,  has  been  for  some  years  in  Portland,  Ore. 

The  widow,  with  her  two  daughters,  Jennie  and  Bessie,  occupies 
their  old  home  in  Philadelphia. 

As  a  testimony  of  the  high  standing  of  Mr.  McElroy,  we  insert 
the  following,  written  by  his  pastor,  the  late  Dr.  Boardman : 

"A  disciple  of  Jesus,  from  his  childhood  his  whole  life  bore 
testimony  to  the  vigor  of  his  faith,  the  fervor  of  his  love,  the 
purity  of  his  motives,  and  the  unselfishness  of  his  aims.  It  was 
his  high  distinction  to  maintain,  amidst  the  conflicts  of  a  labori- 
ous profession  and  in  every  sphere  of  life,  a  spotless  reputation 
for  truthfulness,  in tegrityhororable  dealing  and  unostentatious 
benevolence,  the  beautiful  and  harmonious  outgrowth  of  deep- 
seated  and  all-pervading  Christian  principle.  The  Bar  is  left  to 
mourn  one  of  its  bright  ornaments,  and  the  Church,  one  of  its 
most  faithful,  useful  and  beloved  members." 


Beaver    County    (Pa.)    M c Elro ys  139 

Isabella  McElroy,  only  daughter  of  Robert,  was  m.  in  Phila- 
delphia, October  8,  1856,  Rev.  J.  B.  Dales,  D.  D.,  officiating,  to 
Rev.  George  Patton,  an  Associate  Reformed  Presbyterian  minis- 
ter. For  fifteen  years  he  was  pastor  of  the  United  Presbyterian 
Church,  at  Seneca,  N.  Y.  In  1871  he  accepted  a  call  to  the  Third 
Presbyterian  Church,  of  Rochester,  of  which  he  was  pastor  until 
his  death  in  1897,  in  his  sixty-ninth  year.  Mrs.  Patton  continues 
to  reside  in  Rochester  with  her  two  daughters  and  a  son  and  two 
grandchildren. 


A  PITTSBURGH  FAMILY 


William  McElroy,  from  County  Fermanagh,  Ireland,  came  to 
Philadelphia  in  1824.  His  father,  Dennis  McElroy,  was  a  schol- 
arly man,  a  professor  in  some  institution  of  learning  in  the  old 
country.  He  had  five  or  six  sons.  From  Philadelphia,  William 
came  west  and  settled  at  Beallville,  Washington  County,  Pa.  His 
son,  William  McElroy,  jr.,  d.  in  Pittsburgh,  leaving  a  widow, 
Mrs.  Jane  McElroy.  Their  son,  John  M.  McElroy,  is  a  clerk 
of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company,  residing  in  Edgewood. 

Hon.  John  Scott,  of  Philadelphia. 

Some  years  since  a  Female  College  was  established  at  Decatur, 
Georgia,  through  the  liberality  of  Col.  George  Scott,  of  that  place, 
and  called  "The  Agnes  Scott  Institute,"  in  memory  of  the 
founder's  mother.  At  its  dedication,  Hon.  John  Scott,  a  brother 
to  the  Colonel,  delivered  an  address  in  which  he  referred  to  his 
mother's  ancestry  as  including  some  who  bore  the  name  McElroy, 
and  some  who  were  among  the  heroic  defenders  in  the  siege  of 
Londonderry  in  1689. 

In  reply  to  a  letter  addressed  to  him  at  Philadelphia,  Mr.  Scott 
gave  us  some  particulars  which  are  deemed  worthy  of  insertion 
here. 

"Upon  referring  to  some  notes  I  made  in  the  year  1848  of 
information  given  me  by  my  mother  and  grandmother,  both  of 
whom  were  then  living,  I  find  as  follows:  My  grandmother, 
Mary  Stitt,  was  m.  June  22,  1793,  to  William  Irvine.  She  spoke 
of  there  having  been  a  John  McElroy  among  her  maternal  ances- 
tors in  Scotland  before  their  emigration  to  Ulster,  without  giving 
date,  however.  She  gave  the  names  of  John  McElroy  and  Jane 
McElroy  as  her  maternal  grandfather  and  grandmother  in  Ulster. 
Their  residences  were    all  in    County    Down,  Ireland,  and  my 


142  Scotch-Irish    Mc Elroys 

grandmother  resided  at  or  near  to  the  town  of  Kilkeel,  in  that 
county." 

Mr.  Scott  has  since  passed  to  the  other  shore.  He  was  a  dis- 
tinguished citizen,  an  elder  in  the  Presbyterian  Church,  solicitor 
for  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company,  and  at  one  time  United 
States  Senator  from  Pennsylvania. 


Rev.  George  B.  RIcElroy,  D.  D. 


SLiGO  Mcelroys 


Samuel  McElroy,  b.  and  brought  up  in  Sligo,  Ireland,  came  to 
America  and  settled  in  Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  in  1821.  He  was  b.  in 
1788.  His  mother  was  Cecelia  Knott.  Mr.  McElroy  came  to  the 
United  States  through  Canada.  He  was  a  nail  maker,  and  worked 
at  that  trade  for  some  years  in  Pittsburgh,  and  then  learned  the 
trade  of  cut  nail  making  by  machinery.  He  afterward  built  and 
operated  the  first  machine  for  making  spikes  in  the  City  of 
Pittsburgh. 

He  was  a  man  who  had  the  courage  of  his  convictions,  and 
became  prominent  all  over  Western  Pennsylvania  for  his  pro- 
nounced views  on  the  anti-slavery  question  and  his  close  con- 
nection with  the  "Underground  Railroad." 

He  d.  in  1868,  at  the  age  of  eighty  years. 

The  maiden  name  of  his  wife  was  Ann  Beamish.  Their  eld- 
est son, 

Rev.  George  B.  McElroy,  D.  D. 

of  Adrian,  Mich.,  was  b.  in  1824,  became  a  member  of  the  Metho- 
dist Protestant  Church  at  the  age  of  sixteen,  and  was  licensed  as 
a  preacher  on  his  eighteenth  birthday.  For  the  next  ten  years 
he  filled  various  appointments  in  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia. 

July  22,  1 85 1,  he  m.  Mary  Good,  of  Johnstown,  Pa. 

In  1852  he  became  principal  of  the  Preparatory  Department  of 
Madison  College,  at  Uniontown,  Pa.,  the  beginning  of  a  career  of 
activity  and  distinguished  success  in  the  line  of  higher  education. 
In  1857  he  removed  to  Henry,  111.,  and  took  charge  of  the  North 
Illinois  Institute,  continuing  in  that  work  and  in  public  school 
work  for  seven  years.  From  1864  to  1866  he  was  principal  of 
Alleghany  Seminary  at  Sharpsburg,  Pa. 

In  1866  he  accepted  a  call  to  become  Professor  of  Mathematics 
and  Astronomy  in  Adrian  College,  Michigan,  where  he  has  con- 


144  Scotch-Irish    Mc Elroys 

tinued  to  the  present  time.  He  has  been  active  in  the  work  of 
instruction,  and  as  a  member  and  officer  in  the  Board  of  Trustees. 
For  seven  years,  from  1873  to  1880,  he  was  President  of  the 
College,  and  later  was  made  Professor  of  Systematic  Theology. 
In  1881  he  was  a  delegate  from  the  Methodist  Protestant  Church 
to  the  Ecumenical  Conference  of  Methodism,  in  the  City  of  Lon- 
don, and  presented  an  essay  which  was  printed  in  their  pro- 
ceedings. 

Mr.  McElroy  has  his  full  share  of  academic  honors :  B.  A.  and 
M.  A.,  from  Madison  College ;  Ph.  D.  from  Western  Maryland 
College,  and  D.  D.  from  Waynesburg  College.  His  life  has  been 
one  of  good  influence,  indomitable  energy  and  high  achievement, 

John  H.  McElroy,  of  Pittsburgh,  the  second  son  of  Samuel 
and  Ann,  was  b.  January  12,  1828.  He  is  a  self-made  man  and 
his  life  has  been  one  of  good  influence  and  marked  success.  He 
attended  the  public  schools  in  his  early  boyhood,  but  before  reach- 
ing his  teens  had  been  registered  as  a  learner  in  the  practical 
school  of  iron  work,  machinery  and  business.  In  later  years  he 
attended  night  schools.  He  visited  the  eastern  cities  and  in  their 
machine  shops  learned  lessons  that  were  of  value  to  him  as 
machinist  and  engineer.  He  assisted  in  building  the  first  carding 
machines  that  were  used  in  Pennsylvania.  He  was  foreman  of 
the  Fort  Pitt  Foundry  Company,  and  at  a  later  time  foreman  for 
a  large  iron  works,  resigning  in  1879,  to  take  charge  as  chief  engi- 
neer of  the  Pittsburgh  Fire  Department. 

For  a  number  of  years  past  he  has  been  identified  with  the 
Pittsburgh  Gas  Company,  as  secretary  and  consulting  engineer. 

In  1856  Mr.  McElroy  m.  Miss  Jane  Macklin,  of  Pittsburgh. 
They  have  five  sons : 

William  M.    A  lawyer  in  Pittsburgh. 

Samuel  M.    Cashier  of  the  Citizens'  National  Bank. 

Orlando  M.     Connected  with  the  Philadelphia  and  Consoli- 
dated Gas  Companies. 


Sligo    McElroys  i^c 

Harmon  N.,  who  resides  in  the  City  of  Mexico,  auditor  of  the 

International  Railway. 
John  H.  McElroy,  jr.,  who  is  with  the  Shoen  Pressed  Steel 

Car  Works. 

The  third  and  youngest  son  of  Samuel  and  Ann  was: 

Hon.  Samuel  McElroy,  who  was  b.  in  1834,  and  who  d.  in 
1888,  at  the  age  of  fifty-four.  He  was  a  man  of  recognized  ability 
and  of  great  popularity.  He  represented  Alleghany  County  four 
years  in  the  Pennsylvania  legislature. 


John  H.  McElroy 


i 


DELAWARE  (OHIO)  McELROYS 


Between  1825  and  1830  Rev.  James  McElroy,  D.  D.,  a  Protes- 
tant Episcopal  clergyman,  came  to  America  from  Ireland,  accom- 
panied by  his  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Burrowes.  He  was 
of  strictly  Irish  descent  and  could  trace  his  line  back  full  400 
years  through  McElroys  and  McGuires.  During  those  four 
centuries  the  McElroys  were  known  as  soldiers  and  fighters,  tak- 
ing an  active  part  in  almost  all  the  conflicts  of  the  times.  They 
were  involved  in  the  Irish  Rebellion  of  1642,  losing  their  estates 
in  County  Fermanagh,  and  some  of  them  probably  also  losing 
their  heads. 

Dr.  McElroy  was  b.  in  Spiter  Island,  County  Cork,  in  the  ex- 
treme south  of  Ireland.  His  father,  Charles  McElroy,  was  a 
major  in  the  British  army.  He  d.  in  1846,  being  ninety-six  years 
of  age.  Two  brothers  of  the  doctor  were  also  in  the  public  ser- 
vice ;  Francis  in  the  navy,  and  another  brother  a  major  in  the 
army,  on  duty  in  Jamaica. 

Dr.  McElroy  was  a  graduate  of  Trinity  College,  Dublin.  Upon 
coming  to  this  country  he  accepted  a  professorship  in  Kenyon 
College,  at  Gambler,  Ohio,  which  he  held  for  a  number  of  years. 
He  was  subsequently  on  duty  at  Delaware,  Ohio,  for  twelve  years. 
He  then  removed  to  California,  where  he  d.  at  Oakland,  in  1880, 
at  the  age  of  eighty  years.  He  left  two  daughters  residing  at 
Oakland.  His  two  sons  were  prominent  as  soldiers  and  as 
citizens. 

Col.  James  Newton  McElroy  was  a  cadet  for  two  years  at 
West  Point.  In  the  civil  war  he  was  major  and  lieutenant-colonel. 
Twentieth  Ohio  Infantry;  lieutenant-colonel.  Sixtieth  Ohio; 
major  and  judge  advocate  of  volunteers.  After  the  war,  was 
appointed  to  positions  in  United  States  army :  lieutenant,  captain, 


148  Scotch-Irish    Mc Elroys 

major  and  lieutenant-colonel.     Was  honorably  discharged  at  his 
own  request  in  August,  1870.     He  d.  in  December,  1870. 

Hon.  Charles  H.  McElroy  b.  1830.  Was  captain  in  Twen- 
tieth Ohio  Infantry  and  promoted  major  Ninety-sixth  Ohio.  He 
has  been  in  law  practice  at  Delaware,  Ohio,  and  judge  of  the 
Court  of  Common  Pleas.  His  wife  d.  several  years  since.  His 
son  Frank  is  m.  and  resides  in  Indianapolis. 

John  McElroy,  of  Washington  City. 

About  the  year  1820,  Patrick  McElroy,  with  his  wife  Bridget, 
came  from  Belfast,  North  Ireland,  and  settled  in  Pennsylvania. 
Some  years  later  he  removed  west  to  Coshocton  County,  Ohio. 
He  was  a  stone  cutter  and  was  employed  on  public  works  through 
that  region.  He  was  a  strict  Presbyterian,  and  a  man  of  gigantic 
build  and  strength.  Tradition  says  he  had  no  ribs,  but  a  solid 
plate  of  bone  instead,  and  double  teeth  in  front.  His  wife  was  a 
very  expert  lacemaker.  John,  the  younger  of  their  two  sons, 
d.  young. 

Robert  Adams  McElroy,  son  of  Patrick,  m.  Mary  Henderson, 
and  moved  to  Greenup  County,  Kentucky,  where  he  d.  about  the 
year  1857. 

John  McElroy,  son  of  Robert,  was  b.  in  Kentucky  in  1843. 
After  the  death  of  his  father,  and  while  yet  a  boy,  he  went  to  St. 
Louis  and  became  a  devil-boy  in  a  printing  office.  He  learned  to 
set  type  and  also  to  write  shorthand. 

He  was  with  the  Union  troops  in  the  earlier  operations  around 
St.  Louis. 

Afterward  he  went  to  Chicago,  where  he  enlisted  in  Company 
C,  McClernard  Body  Guard,  which  subsequently  became  part  of 
the  Sixteenth  Illinois  Cavalry,  and  served  with  the  Army  of  the 
Tennessee  until  after  the  fall  of  Vicksburg.  Then  his  regiment 
was  transferred  to  the  Army  of  the  Ohio,  under  Burnside. 

On  the  third  day  of  January,  1864,  the  battalion  to  which  he 


Delaware    (Ohio)    McElroys  149 

belonged,  being  on  a  raid  up  Powell's  Valley  into  Virginia,  and 
about  forty  miles  from  Cumberland  Gap,  where  were  the  nearest 
United  States  troops,  they  were  surrounded,  at  Jonesville,  by 
Gen.  William  E.  Jones's  rebel  brigade,  and  after  a  stubborn 
resistance  lasting  all  day,  were  compelled  to  surrender.  The  pris- 
oners were  taken  to  Richmond,  later  to  Andersonville,  and  before 
the  war  closed  John  McElroy  had  been  in  the  prisons  successively 
at  Savannah,  Millen  and  Blackshear,  Ga.,  and  at  Charleston  and 
Florence,  S.  C. 

The  Illinois  battalion  went  into  the  fight  at  Jonesville,  Va.,  with 
about  325  men  and  lost  about  sixty-five  killed  and  severely 
wounded  before  they  surrendered.  Of  the  remaining  260,  the 
Official  Report  shows  157  who  were  known  to  have  died.  The 
company  of  which  McElroy  was  a  member  almost  disappeared, 
not  over  thirteen  or  fourteen  known  to  have  come  out  alive. 

John  McElroy's  prison  life  occupied  a  term  of  fifteen  months^ 
or  until  the  close  of  the  war  in  April,  1865.  Of  this,  about  nine 
months  were  at  Andersonville. 

After  the  war  he  went  to  Chicago  and  reentered  a  printing 
office.  He  furbished  up  his  shorthand  and  became  a  reporter, 
helping  to  start  the  Inter-Ocean.  Leaving  Chicago,  he  went  to 
Toledo,  Ohio,  to  accept  the  position  of  city  editor  of  the  Toledo 
Blade.  He  was  managing  editor  of  the  Blade  ten  years,  when  he 
left,  in  1884,  to  accept  the  editorship  of  the  National  Tribune  at 
Washington  City,  which  position  he  still  holds.  He  is  one  of  the 
three  owners  of  the  paper,  the  style  of  the  firm  being  "McElroy, 
Shoppell  &  Andrews." 

While  at  Toledo  he  published  an  octavo  volume  of  650  pages 
entitled  "Andersonville  :  a  story  of  southern  prisons."  The  work 
has  had  an  immense  sale,  and  now,  twenty  years  after  its  publi- 
cation, is  still  in  demand.  He  has  also  published  several  other 
books,  stories,  etc.  His  pen  is  facile  and  prolific,  and  his  interested 
readers  are  numbered  by  the  ten  thousand. 

Mr.  McElroy  may  be  justly  characterized  as  printer,  soldier, 
journalist  and  author. 


150  Scotch-Irish    Mc Elroys 

He  served  as  Commander,  Department  of  the  Potomac,  G.  A.  R., 
in  1896. 

He  m.  Miss  Elsie,  daughter  of  Dr.  C.  T.  Pomeroy,  of  Ottawa, 
Ohio.    Their  two  Hving  children  are  : 

Karl  P.  McElroy,  an  examiner  in  the  Patent  Office. 
Elsie  Pomeroy,  wife  of  H.  D.  Slater,  editor  and  proprietor 
of  the  El  Paso,  Texas,  Daily  Herald. 


NORTH  CAROLINA  McELROYS 


It  is  probable  that  McElroys  were  among  the  earhest  settlers  in 
North  Carolina.  There  are  several  connections  of  the  name — 
unrelated  so  far  as  we  know — in  different  parts  of  the  state.  Yet 
they  are  all,  beyond  doubt,  of  Scotch-Irish  stock.  There  is  a 
Samuel  J.  McElroy,  at  Hopewell,  Mecklenburg  County,  and  a  W. 
E.  McElroy  at  Charlotte.  We  learn  of  a  Col.  Hugh  McElroy,  in 
Transylvania  County,  in  addition  to  Col.  John  S.  McElroy,  of 
Madison  County,  mentioned  elsewhere  as  related  to  the  Kentucky 
McElroys.     A  letter  came  recently  to  hand  from 

David  McElroy,  of  Waynesville,  N.  C. 

His  grandfather,  Henry  McElroy,  lived  in  Lincoln  County. 
He  had  a  son,  David  McElroy,  who  removed  to  the  State  of 
Indiana  some  sixty  years  ago.  He  had  a  large  family,  and  was 
reported  later  as  about  moving  to  California.  Another  son  of 
Henry  settled  in  Georgia.  The  father  of  our  correspondent,  James 
McElroy,  lived  in  Haywood  County.  He  had  ten  children,  eight 
sons  and  two  daughters.  Four  of  the  sons  are  yet  living,  Abra- 
ham, William,  Johnson  and  David.  Their  father  d.  about  1870. 
David  McElroy  was  b.  April  15,  1830.  He  was  m.  in  1856  and 
has  seven  children,  six  daughters,  and  a  son  seventeen  years  old, 
whose  name  is  John  Battle  McElroy. 

George  McElroy,  a  Patriarch  in  Iowa. 

At  Eldora,  Hardin  County,  Iowa,  on  the  19th  day  of  September, 
1900,  occurred  the  death  of  George  McElroy,  in  his  ninety-eighth 
year.  He  was  b.  at  Castle  Blaney,  North  Ireland,  in  August, 
1803.  His  people  were  of  Scotch-Irish  Covenanter  stock.  He 
was  one  of  a  family  of  twelve  children.  He  came  to  America  at 
the  age  of  eighteen  and  located  in  Philadelphia.     He  learned  the 


152  Scotch-Irish    Mc  Elroys 

trade  of  marble  cutter,  and  worked  at  that  business  more  than 
thirty  years.  When  over  forty  years  of  age  he  m.  Margaret 
Sproull,  who  d.  in  1898,  a  sister  of  Rev.  A.  W.  Sproull,  D.  D., 
now  at  Perth  Amboy.  In  1857  George  removed  to  Iowa,  settling 
on  a  farm  in  Hardin  County.  About  1875  he  sold  his  farm  and 
removed  to  Eldora,  the  County  seat.  Since  the  death  of  his  wife, 
about  two  years  ago,  he  has  lived  with  his  son-in-law  and  daugh- 
ter, Mr.  and  Mrs.  D.  Wills.  He  was  a  good  citizen  and  reputable 
Christian,  a  member  of  the  Congregational  Church.  His  surviv- 
ing children  are : 

1.  George  A.  b.  1846.    Resides  in  California.    A  conductor 

on  Southern  Pacific  Railroad.     Married  Sarah  Hart- 
man,  1867.    Is  a  grandfather.    Two  married  daughters 
in  Colorado. 

2.  James  G.  b.  1848;   m.  F.  E.  Westfall,  1874.    Resides  at 

Eldora,  Iowa.    Traveling  salesman. 

3.  Eliza  Jane  b.  1850;  m.  D.  Wills,  1874.    Eldora. 

4.  Robert  W.  b.  1853 ;  ^n.  in  1880.    Conductor  on  M.,  K.  & 

T.  Railway. 


NEW  BRUNSWICK  McELROYS 


In  County  Derry,  North  Ireland,  about  the  beginning  of  the  nine- 
teenth century,  lived  Patrick  McElroy.  He  had  a  considerable 
family,  most  of  whom  remained  in  Ireland.  His  son,  James 
McElroy,  b.  about  1810,  migrated,  when  a  young  man,  to  America, 
settling  in  New  Brunswick.  His  wife  was  Nancy  Rankin,  of 
Garvagh-on-the-Bann.  His  later  years  were  spent  in  Brook- 
lyn, N.  Y.,  where  he  d.  at  the  age  of  seventy-five.  He  is  said  to 
have  had  a  strong  facial  resemblance  to  Rev.  Joseph  McElroy, 
D.  D.,  of  New  York.  There  were  McElroys  in  Philadelphia  who 
traced  kinship  with  him.  Grandfather  Patrick  McElroy  claimed 
that  certain  McElroys  who  were  related  to  him  had  settled  in 
Kentucky. 

James  McElroy  had  seven  daughters  and  one  son. 

The  Rev.  Solomon  C.  McElroy.  He  was  b.  at  St.  John,  New 
Brunswick,  October  8,  1840,  graduated  from  the  University  of 
New  York  in  1862,  and  from  Princeton  Theological  Seminary 
in  1865. 

The  thirty-five  years  of  his  ministry  have  been  spent  chiefly  in 
Eastern  Pennsylvania  and  in  New  York.  His  present  residence 
is  Jonesville,  near  Albany. 


Mcelroy  pennings  and  personals 

Tribute  to  a  Mother,  Mrs.  Mary  McElroy,  by  Her  Son, 
Crocket  McElroy. 

(From  the  St.  Clair  Republican  of  April  ip,  1894..) 

My  mother  lived  to  be  eighty-four  years  six  months  and  twenty- 
six  days  old  and  died  on  the  12th  inst.,  at  Jackson,  Mich.,  where 
she  was  living  with  her  daughter  Mary.  Her  body  was  laid  to 
rest  on  the  14th,  at  Lapeer,  by  the  side  of  my  father,  who  pre- 
ceded her  thirteen  years  in  entering  the  great  hereafter.  She 
was  the  mother  of  ten  children,  eight  sons  and  two  daughters, 
all  provided  with  stout  bodies  and  strong  constitutions.  Three 
children  died  before  reaching  the  age  of  maturity,  one  of  small- 
pox, one  of  cholera  and  one  of  wounds  received  in  battle  while 
serving  as  a  soldier  in  the  Union  army.  The  seven  children  who 
reached  maturity  were  all  large  and  able  bodied.  At  one  time  my 
father  and  mother  and  all  their  children  would  average  in  weight 
over  200  pounds  each.  Only  five  of  the  children  are  now  living, 
who  are  named  in  the  order  of  their  ages  as  follows :  Andrew,  of 
Marine  City;  Crocket,  of  this  city;  Francis,  of  Lapeer;  Mary 
(Mrs.  S.  D.  Bailey)  of  Jackson,  and  Wesley,  of  Windsor,  Ont. 

In  her  prime  my  mother  was  a  woman  of  pride,  ambition  and 
great  usefulness.  She  was  noted  for  her  strict  integrity,  remarka- 
ble industry  and  wonderful  powers  of  endurance.  She  was  a 
worker,  and  nearly  all  her  life  worked  almost  incessantly  from 
early  morn  until  late  bedtime.  Usually  the  first  one  up  and  the 
last  one  to  bed,  she  would  almost  invariably  do  a  longer  day's 
work  than  any  other  person  in  the  household,  which  included 
mechanics  in  the  employ  of  my  father.  In  those  days  there  were 
no  sewing  machines  and  no  gas  or  electric  lights,  and  for  many 
long  hours  at  night  when  the  children  were  all  in  bed,  my  mother 
would  sit  by  the  light  of  candles  made  by  her  own  hands  and 


156  Scotch-Irish    McElroys 

ply  her  dextrous  needles  making  all  kinds  of  garments  from  shirts 
and  socks,  to  coats  and  caps.  Ready  made  clothing  was  not  heard 
of  in  those  days,  at  least  in  our  town,  according  to  my  memory. 

My  mother  did  all  kinds  of  work  about  her  home,  she  was  an 
expert  gardener,  and  took  pride  in  her  gardening  as  in  all  her 
work.  She  would  be  among  the  first  in  town  to  have  ripe  straw- 
berries, green  peas,  onions  and  such  things  in  the  garden  every 
summer.  She  was  an  excellent  cook,  milliner,  dressmaker, 
tailoress  and  in  fact  could  do  any  kind  of  work  that  women  in 
those  days  were  called  upon  to  do,  and  do  it  well. 

My  mother  was  a  housekeeper  from  her  nineteenth  year  until 
she  was  past  eighty-two,  a  period  of  nearly  sixty-four  years. 
She  never  surrendered  the  power  to  rule  and  run  her  own  house, 
but  old  age  at  last  took  it  from  her.  Not  one  of  her  children 
possesses  the  ambition,  the  energy,  or  the  powers  of  endurance 
that  my  mother  had.  Some  of  her  splendid  qualities  may 
be  observed  trickling  through  the  characters  of  her  children, 
but  none  of  them  will  live  to  show  a  record  of  hours  of  labor  done, 
equal  to  that  of  their  mother. 

Overshadowing  all  her  other  good  qualities  was  my  mother's 
intense  love  for  her  children.  She  taught  them  to  be  good  and 
ruled  them  through  love,  but  did  not  hesitate  to  enforce  obedience 
by  harsher  means  when  necessary. 

I  have  tried  all  my  life  to  realize  and  appreciate  the  immeasura- 
ble value  of  a  mother's  love  and  no  effort  I  have  ever  made 
brought  me  back  such  rich  returns  of  consolation  and  satisfac- 
tion, and  in  closing  this  poor  sketch  I  wish  to  say  to  all  persons 
who  read  it,  (especially  to  the  young)  who  have  a  mother  to  love, 
— love  your  mother.  Do  it  not  only  from  a  sense  of  duty,  but  for 
love's  sake,  no  matter  what  may  befall  your  mother  let  her  have 
the  benefit  of  your  love.  Her  eyes  may  grow  dim  and  her  ears 
get  dull,  but  so  long  as  you  have  a  mother  to  love,  continue  to 
love  your  mother,  and  you  may  rest  assured  of  reaping  a  rich 
reward  in  the  up-building  of  your  manhood  and  in  soul  satisfying 
comfort. 


M  c  Elro  y   P  ennings   and   P  ersonals  157 

From  "City  of  the  Dead." 

Written  by  William  Montgomery  McElroy  in  1863. 

The  City  of  the  Dead ! 
How  grand  its  solemn  temples  rise ; 
To  deeds  of  fame  its  tenants  sleep, 
Or  soar  immortal  in  the  skies. 

Tears  are  of  no  avail ; 
The  broken  bleeding  heart, 
Cannot  bring  back  the  dead  to  life, 
Nor  bid  their  pulses  start. 

Oh,  holiest  memory, 
Though  time's  swift  years  run  fast, 
With  busy  steps  our  thoughts  will  turn 
Along  the  shadowy  past. 

The  past  we  know ; 
The  future  is  our  anxious  care ; 
We  paint  a  heaven  of  bliss  on  high, 
And  dream  that  we  are  there. 


Opening  Stanza  from  a  Poem  on  "The  Wisconsin  River." 
By  William  Montgomery  McElroy. 

No  Roman  walked  on  Arno's  side 
Or  mused  on  Ario's  falling  tide 
With  more  delight  than  I  have  stood 
And  gazed  upon  Wisconsin's  flood. 
Its  booming  roar  to  me  more  dear 
Than  aught  that  could  salute  my  ear, 
Invites  me  oft,  at  set  of  sun. 
When  tasks  are  o'er  and  labor's  done, 
To  wander  on  its  grassy  brink, 
Forget  the  world  and  idly  think. 


158  Scotch-Irish   Mc  Elroys 

The  Irvine  Mothers. 

From  unpublished  manuscript  of  the  late  W.  T.  Knott,  Ph.  D. 

With  whatever  pride  and  veneration  and  honor  the  generations 
of  the  McElroy  clan  of  this  day  revert  to  their  noble  paternal 
ancestors  of  a  hundred  years  ago,  how  much  more  may  they  in 
truth  and  justice  accord  to  their  maternal  ancestors  of  that  day. 
"For  if  we  have  any  good  in  us  is  it  not  greatly  due  to  our  good 
mothers  rather  than  to  our  fathers?" 

The  Irvines,  the  three  sisters,  Esther,  Mary  and  Margaret,  the 
honored  and  noble  wives  of  Hugh,  Samuel  and  James  McElroy, 
the  mothers,  twelve  decades  ago,  of  the  Kentucky  McElroys,  were 
of  a  family  of  Scotch-Irish  Presbyterians,  ever  true  to  the  great 
principles  of  political  freedom  and  religious  liberty ;  ever  found 
side  by  side  with  their  brother  Covenanters,  the  McElroys  and 
others,  in  defence  of  those  principles — with  them  in  every  trial 
and  trouble — suffering  with  them  in  all  the  persecutions  that  it 
was  their  lot  to  endure.  The  Irvine  name  in  Scotland  reaches 
far  back  into  the  centuries  that  are  past,  and  may  be  found  all 
along  the  line  of  the  meagre  history  of  the  sixteenth  and  seven- 
teenth centuries,  either  in  Scotland  or  North  Ireland. 

Early  in  the  eighteenth  century,  about  the  year  1729,  we  find 
the  good  ship  "George  and  Ann"  bearing  the  Irvines  and  their 
compatriots  and  kinsmen,  the  McElroys,  McDowells,  McKees, 
McCunes,  McCampbells  and  many  others  over  the  broad  waters 
of  the  Atlantic  to  the  shores  of  America.  Nor  was  the  name 
Irvine  more  illustrious  and  noble  among  the  hills  of  Scotland, 
and  the  counties  of  Irish  Ulster,  than  it  was  destined  to  become 
in  the  colonies  of  America.  The  name  is  imperishable  in  the 
annals  of  early  American  history,  and  found  among  the  bravest 
generals  who  directed  the  armies  during  the  French  and  Indian 
wars.  It  found  a  place  in  every  rank  in  the  battles  for  American 
independence.  The  Irvines  were  educated  men  for  that  day,  and 
while  we  find  them  foremost  as  statesmen  and  soldiers  on  the 
secular  battlefields,  we  find  also  the  name  prominent  as  valorous. 


M  c  E  Iro  y   P  ennings   and  P  ersonals  159 

earnest,  and  zealous  soldiers  under  the  Great    Captain  of    the 
armies  of  Jehovah  as  ministers  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

Then  well  may  the  generations  of  to-day,  and  those  to  follow, 
descendants  of  the  McElroys  and  Irvines,  be  proud  of  their 
lineage,  and  of  the  commingled  blood  of  those  noble  families  that 
courses  in  their  veins. 


A  Poem  by  William  H.  McElroy. 

(Read  on  the  occasion  of  the  eightieth  birthday  of  William  McElroy 
of  Albany,  N.  Y.,  October  28.  1876.) 

A  truce  to  politics  to-night; 

Let  rival  parties  be; 
All  patriotic  toasts  we  slight — 

"My  country"  not  "of  thee" 
Our  native  land  we  will  not  sing. 

Nor  e'en  our  native  town, 
But  each  will  hearty  tribute  bring 

To  Erin's  County  Down. 

Beyond  a  waste  of  waters  wild. 

Just  eighty  years  ago, 
Above  a  lusty  new-born  child 

Fond  hearts  were  bending  low ; 
And,  faith,  his  parents  did  declare 

That  any  honest  jury 
Could  call  their  boy  beyond  compare 

In  Dromantine  or  Newry. 

The  years  transform  the  baby  weak, 

And  whisper  tales  romantic, 
That  tempt  him  to  his  fortune  seek 

Beyond  the  wild  Atlantic. 
At  length  delay  he  will  not  brook, 

Tells  Erin  he  "must  leave  her," 
And,  presto!     he's  in  "Schaghticoke" 

Her  first  "imported"  weaver. 


i6o  Scotch-Irish    McElroys 

He  did  not  take  from  Dromantine 

A  bulgy  pocket-book, 
Nor  stocks,  nor  bonds,  nor  raiment  fine, 

When  he  his  home  forsook. 
But  in  their  stead  he  bore  away 

What's  better  worth  possessing, 
A  help  for  every  after  day, — 

His  dear,  good  father's  blessing. 

The  new  world  caught  him  to  her  breast 

That  friendless  Irish  boy, 
And  cried  "Just  up  and  do  your  best ;" 

You're  welcome,  McElroy ! 
I've  room  enough,  and  room  to  spare, 

My  skies  are  free  as  sunny ; 
And  those  who  will  but  do  and  dare 

Shall  gain  my  milk  and  honey. 

He  loved  the  new  world,  bluff  and  free, 

And  with  the  rule  that's  golden. 
He  won  his  way  this  side  the  sea 

As  in  the  world  that's  olden. 
He  did  his  best — was  brave  and  true, 

Hewed  close  to  honor's  line. 
And  friends  and  fortune  came  to  him, 

That  boy  from  Dromantine. 


PERSONALS 


Abby  and  Mary,  daughters  of  Rev.  John  M.  McElroy,  were 
born  in  Ottumwa,  Iowa,  and  trained  in  the  pubUc  schools  and  in 
the  Western  College  for  Women  at  Oxford,  Ohio,  with  the  addi- 
tion of  some  experience  as  teachers  in  Ottumwa  schools,  and  as 
helpers  in  the  work  of  city  missions  at  the  East  End  Chapel. 

From  this  the  transition  was  easy  to  the  work  of  the  Young 
Women's  Christian  Association,  which,  about  that  time,  was  be- 
ginning to  attract  public  notice.  Abby  became  secretary  of  the 
Association  at  Kansas  City,  Mo.,  and  afterward  had  charge  of  a 
newly  organized  association  at  her  home  in  Ottumwa.  In  1897 
she  was  invited  to  Newburgh-on-the-Hudson,  where  two  full 
years  of  successful  work  followed.  In  January,  1900,  an  urgent 
call  took  her  to  Nashville,  Tenn.,  where  in  a  wide  and  important 
field,  she  has  been  on  duty  the  past  year,  with  appreciation  and 
success. 

Mary  began  her  work  in  the  Association  at  Topeka,  Kan.,  and 
was  afterward  State  Secretary  for  Illinois,  with  headquarters  at 
Galesburg.  By  the  International  Committee  she  was  sent  to  New 
York  City  to  take  charge  of  the  newly  organized  Harlem  Associa- 
tion. It  was  the  day  of  small  things.  The  work  was  new  and  but 
little  known,  occupying  rented  rooms,  with  small  membership 
and  income. 

Nine  years  of  service  and  management  have  witnessed  gratify- 
ing expansion  and  progress,  and  have  attracted  a  host  of  appre- 
ciative helpers.  The  association  now  has  a  membership  of  eleven 
hundred,  with  six  hundred  young  women  in  educational  classes, 
and  three  hundred  in  gymnasium  classes,  occupying  their  own 
property,  a  commodious  home  valued  at  $120,000. 

In  the  summer  of  '98  the  two  sisters  were  delegates  in  attend- 
ance upon  the  World's  Association  Conference  in  the  City  of 


i62  Scotch-Irish    Mc Elroys 

London.  Mary  remained,  upon  invitation  of  the  London  Council, 
and  had  charge  for  some  months  of  their  Central  Institute,  with 
a  view  to  introducing  certain  American  methods  and  plans  which 
might  be  helpful  in  the  London  work.  Returning  the  following 
winter,  she  resumed  her  position,  where  she  continues,  as  General 
Secretary  of  the  Harlem  Young  Women's  Christian  Association, 
of  New  York  City. 


NOTES  AND  NAMES 


In  the  city  directories  of  Philadelphia,  Pittsburgh  and  Chicago 
the  McElroy  names  number,  in  each,  between  seventy  and  eighty. 
New  York  has  fifty-nine  names,  Boston  twenty-seven,  New 
Orleans  eleven,  and  Toledo  eleven.  A  portion  of  these  are  Scotch- 
Irish,  but  a  majority  are  Irish-Irish. 

If  an  enumeration  were  made  of  all  the  descendants  of  the 
McElroy  fathers  who  came  to  America  from  Ulster,  how  many 
would  there  be?  No  one  knows.  Perhaps  as  many  as  fifty 
thousand ! 

A  study  of  the  Christian  names  in  vogue  among  our  people  is 
interesting  and  instructive.  Those  Scotch  and  Celtic  fathers  were 
religionists.  The  name  Hugh,  which  means  "Fire,"  carries  us 
back  to  the  times  and  heathen  rites  of  the  Druids,  beyond  the 
pale  of  history.  The  name  Patrick  is  not  the  exclusive  property 
of  the  Catholics.  There  are  many  Scotch  Patricks.  All  classes 
of  Celtic  Christians  venerate  the  name  of  Saint  Patrick,  the 
devoted  missionary  who  brought  the  Gospel  to  Ireland  long  before 
the  opposing  camps  of  Catholic  and  Protestant  were  established. 

The  many  Bible  names,  Abraham,  Joseph,  Sarah,  Samuel, 
David,  John,  Mary,  Elizabeth,  show  us  what  book  they  were  most 
familiar  with. 

They  were  patriots,  naming  their  sons  for  the  reigning 
sovereign,  giving  Jameses  without  number,  and,  after  the  acces- 
sion of  the  Prince  of  Orange,  changing  to  William.  In  this  coun- 
try they  have  had  many  George  Washingtons,  while  it  is  note- 
worthy that  in  naming  their  boys  those  Scotch  Presbyterians  have 
honored  John  Wesley  and  George  Whitfield  more  than  Calvin 
and  John  Knox. 

Kinship  among  our  different  McElroy  tribes  is,  from  the  stand- 
point of  genealogy,  worthy  of  notice.  We  are  all  one  as  to  our 
Scotch  origin.  It  is  probable,  too,  that  the  number  of  our  fore- 
bears who  lived  in  Scotland  was  not  large.     More  than  half  of 


164  Scotch-Irish    Mc Elroys 

our  American  McElroys  came  from  County  Down,  Ireland,  and 
tradition  has  it  that  "all  the  McElroys  in  County  Down  are  de- 
scended from  three  brothers  who  came  from  Scotland  time  of  the 
persecutions."  One  of  these,  Hugh,  bought  a  tract  of  land  at 
Kate's  Bridge,  in  the  Parish  of  Bally-na-Hinch,  in  the  central  part 
of  the  county,  where  some  of  his  descendants  still  reside ;  and 
there  at  Bally  Roney  Church,  in  unmarked  graves,  the  fathers 
lie  sleeping. 


NOTES— KINSHIP 

There  is  a  presumption  that  all  our  tribes  which  trace  back  to 
that  parish,  Bally-na-hinch,  are  related  to  each  other.  These  in- 
clude the  McElroys  of  Big  Spring,  of  Ligonier,  the  Delaware 
State  McElroys,  and  probably  also  those  of  Albany  and  Michi- 
gan. 

Wherever  we  find  Hugh  as  a  prevalent  and  honored  name  there 
is  room  for  surmise  that  the  tribe  is  descended  from  Hugh,  of 
Kate's  Bridge. 

The  Sligo  McElroys,  now  at  Pittsburgh  and  elsewhere,  have 
a  claim,  based  upon  tradition,  of  kinship  with  the  Albany  Mc- 
Elroys, but  whether  with  William  from  Dromantine,  or  with 
James  and  Samuel  from  the  northern  part  of  the  county,  we  are 
not  sure. 

The  large  tribe  of  Michigan  and  Ontario  McElroys  are  also 
pretty  certainly  related  to  those  of  Albany. 

The  Bucks  County  McElroys,  the  oldest  tribe  in  the  country, 
have  also  a  tradition,  wide-spread  and  persistent,  of  kinship  with 
those  of  Albany,  relating  probably  to  Alexander  McElroy,  who 
lived  many  years  near  Rome,  N.  Y.  There  is  also  good  reason  to 
believe  that  the  McElroys  of  Bucks  County  and  those  of  Kentucky 
are  nearly  related.  James,  the  patriarch  of  the  Kentucky  tribe, 
upon  arriving  in  this  country  with  his  young  wife  in  1729,  stopped 
for  a  time  in  Bucks  County,  where  the  other  McElroy  family 
had  located  twelve  years  earlier.  The  Christian  names  of  these 
two  tribes  are  similar,  Archibald  being  a  favorite.  The  father 
of  James  probably  bore  that  name. 

We  ordinary  McElroys  must  be  on  our  guard  against  too  great 
effort  to  establish  kinship  in  certain  directions.  It  would  be  a 
great  honor  to  be  related  to  Agnes  McElroy  Scott,  the  great- 
grandmother  of  Mrs.  Carrie  Scott  Harrison,  wife  of  President 


i66  Scotch-Irish    Mc Elroys 

Benjamin  Harrison,  and  to  Agnes's  brother-in-law,  Capt.  Matthew 
Scott,  who  was  the  great-grandfather  of  Mrs.  Lucy  Webb  Hayes. 

None  of  us  would  feel  humiliated  by  being  classed  with  the 
Kentucky  people,  who  have  given  to  the  country  and  to  history 
the  orator  and  statesman,  Ex-Governor  Proctor  Knott.  Nor 
would  we  be  grieved  to  be  compelled  to  acknowledge  relationship 
with  the  Schaghticoke  weaver,  of  Albany,  whose  family  is  con- 
nected by  marriage  with  the  late  President  Chester  A.  Arthur. 

Our  McElroys  in  colonial  times  were  not  lacking  in  patriotism. 
In  "Pennsylvania  Archives"  Vol.  XHI,  p.  151,  we  find,  among  the 
names  of  Revolutionary  soldiers,  the  following  McElroys  :  James, 
Daniel,  Charles,  James  (2d),  Adam,  John  and  William.  Among 
enrolled  militiamen  in  Bucks  County  were  George  and  Alexander, 
and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Archibald  McElroy.  In  Virginia  and  the 
Carolinas  there  were  at  least  three :  John,  Archibald  and  Samuel, 
and  probably  Hugh  and  James  additional. 

In  the  war  of  1812,  as  we  know  from  traditional  and  other 
sources,  the  McElroys  were  not  wanting  in  devotion  to  their  coun- 
try's service. 

From  official  records  I  have  obtained  a  list  of  McElroys  who 
have  served  in  the  army  and  navy  for  which  I  am  indebted  to  the 
courtesy  of  John  McElroy,  of  Washington,  D.  C.  Omitting 
names  which  appear  elsewhere  in  this  history,  the  following  may 
be  noted : 

1.  Capt.  James  F.  McElroy,  of  Pennsylvania.  Served  in  Six- 
teenth United  States  Infantry  throughout  the  war  with  Great 
Britain. 

2.  William  McElroy,  Ohio.  Captain  Seventy-second  United 
States  Colored  Infantry ;  later  first  lieutenant  Thirty-ninth  United 
States  Infantry. 

3.  James  P.  McElroy.     First  Lieutenant  Sixth  Ohio  Battery. 

4.  James  A.  McElroy.    First  Lieutenant  Second  Ohio  Cavalry. 

5.  Samuel  D.  McElroy.    First  Lieutenant  129th  Ohio. 

6.  Clesson  R.  McElroy.  First  Lieutenant  Thirteenth  Ver- 
mont. 


Notes — Kinship  167 

7.  Samuel  McElroy.    Second  lieutenant,  211th  Pennsylvania. 

8.  William  B.  McElroy.  Adjutant,  Fourth  Pennsylvania 
Cavalry. 

9.  William  J.  McElroy.  Second  Lieutenant,  Sixty-third 
Pennsylvania. 

10.  Robert  McElroy.    Captain,  Third  Missouri  State  Cavalry. 

In  the  Navy. 

Archibald,  Lieutenant.     Appointed  May  11,  1798. 

Daniel  R.  McElroy.     Second  assistant  engineer. 

Samuel  McElroy.    Third  assistant  engineer. 

Horace  McElroy.    Ensign. 

Thomas  McElroy.     Gunner  (1861),  master  (1864). 

George  Wightman.  Appointed  from  Michigan.  Graduated 
1878.    Now  lieutenant  with  the  Wisconsin. 

Among  our  Celtic  forebears  in  the  dim  and  distant  past,  the 
doings  of  heroes  and  families  and  clans  and  their  chiefs  were 
rehearsed,  on  special  occasions,  by  the  bards,  in  the  numbers  of 
rude  verse,  with  pantomime  and  extravagance  and  with  small 
regard  for  the  line  between  fact  and  legend. 

The  progress  of  civilization  has  retired  the  ancient  bard  and 
written  history  has  taken  the  place  of  his  rude  poetry.  In  regard 
to  family  history,  however,  the  pen  has  not  come  into  universal 
use.  There  are  intelligent  people  and  good  citizens  busied  with 
the  activities  of  social  and  business  life  who  have  no  written 
family  record.  That  they  may  have  had  grandparents  they  do 
not  call  in  question,  but  they  do  not  know  who  they  were.  By 
and  by  they  or  their  children  will  wake  up  to  the  importance  of 
knowing  something  about  ancestry.  There  may  be  an  estate  in 
question,  or  there  may  be  a  desire  to  establish  connection  with  the 
honored  ones  of  Colonial  or  Revolutionary  times.  Let  us  hope 
that  this  family  history  will  tend  to  encourage  and  promote  the 
Family  Record,  in  the  Family  Bible,  with  fullness  of  names,  dates, 
changes  and  localities. 


i68  Scotch-Irish    M c Elroys 

The  fullest  and  best  record  we  have  met  with  is  that  of  the  late 
Samuel  McElroy,  C.  E.,  of  Brooklyn. 

Another  record  of  much  importance  comes  to  us  from  A.  A. 
Cassil,  Esq.,  of  Mount  Vernon,  Ohio.  When  a  lad  of  fourteen 
he  wrote  out  the  history  of  his  tribe  as  given  by  his  aged  grand- 
aunt,  dating  back  from  1769. 

Dr.  Knott,  however,  gives  us  the  fullest  account  of  the  most 
numerous  tribe,  the  Kentucky  McElroys,  the  early  facts  and  inci- 
dents of  which  were  given  him  by  his  venerated  grandfather,  who 
lived  to  be  almost  a  centenarian. 

The  preparation  of  this  McElroy  History  has  required  some 
labor  and  care,  and  has  involved  a  very  extensive  correspondence. 
We  have  tried  to  have  it  accurate,  yet,  we  doubt  not  that  errors 
will  be  discovered  in  it.  Names  and  dates  have  been  in  some 
instances  incorrectly  reported  to  us,  and  the  penmanship  was  not 
always  easily  deciphered. 

The  author  begs  leave  to  say,  however,  that  the  work  has 
accorded  with  his  tastes  and  has  afforded  him  some  satisfaction. 

Our  wide  correspondence  with  many  whose  faces  we  have  never 
seen  has  been  very  satisfactory ;  marked  by  courtesy  and  appre- 
ciation and  a  just  family  pride.  It  is  an  honor  to  be  identified 
with  such  a  people  and  with  their  history.  We  cannot  but  admire 
their  rugged  strength,  their  conscientious  devotion  to  what  they 
thought  was  right,  their  fearlessness  amidst  peril,  their  patriotism, 
and  their  Protestantism. 

Two  thoughts  have  been  to  us  matters  of  special  interest.  First, 
the  oneness  of  the  Scotch-Irish  Americans  in  general,  and  of  the 
McElroys  in  particular,  even  amid  some  diversity  of  religious 
name.  The  greater  part  of  us  are  Presbyterians,  with  high  regard 
for  John  Knox,  and  loyal  to  Presbyterian  faith  and  order ;  and  of 
this  number  some  are  United  Presbyterians  and  some  are 
Reformed  Presbyterians,  or  Covenanters.  Some  of  our  num- 
ber are  Episcopalians,  admiring  the  conservatism  and  sound 
doctrine,  and  pleased  with  the  order  and  worship  of  the 
Episcopal  Church.  Some  are  Methodists,  admirers  of 
John  Wesley,  and  deeming  it  an  honor  to  be  seen  walking  in  his 


Notes — Kinship  169 

footsteps,  even  as  he  followed  in  the  steps  of  the  Master.  Others 
yet,  renouncing  all  authoritative  human  creeds,  accept  the  Bible 
as  their  one  symbol  and  desire  no  other  name  than  Disciple  or 
Christian.  We  do  well  to  remind  ourselves,  that  John  Knox  was 
for  years  an  Episcopal  clergyman,  using  the  liturgy  and  assisting 
in  its  revision,  and  that  he  had  the  honor  of  declining  a  bishopric 
in  the  English  church ;  that  Wesley  was  an  Episcopal  clergyman 
to  the  close  of  his  long  ministry,  and  that  the  form  of  govern- 
ment in  the  churches  which  bear  his  name  is  not  Prelacy  but 
Presbytery;  and  that  Alexander  Campbell  was  a  Scotch-Irish 
Presbyterian,  educated  for  the  Presbyterian  ministry.  We  are  all 
one  in  acknowledging  the  supreme  authority  of  the  word  of  God, 
and  we  are  one  family  in  heirship  to  that  civil  and  religious 
liberty  for  which  our  forefathers  contended  in  Scotland.  It  is  our 
right  to  be  Methodists,  or  Disciples,  or  Episcopalians,  or  Presby- 
terians, without  asking  permission  of  any  earthly  power. 

Our  remaining  thought  relates  to  our  country ;  of  wide  extent, 
with  a  teeming  population,  a  heroic  past,  and  a  magnificent  future. 
McElroys  are  found  in  every  part  of  it,  probably  in  every  state 
in  the  Union,  and  north  and  south  of  every  parallel  of  latitude. 
In  our  late  deplorable  civil  war  they  were  in  opposing  camps,  and 
confronted  each  other  on  the  field  of  battle.  That  was  one  trouble, 
there  were  so  many  Scotch-Irish  on  both  sides, — conscientious, 
stubborn,  heroic  men,  not  easily  whipped  and  who  did  not  know 
when  they  were  whipped.  Let  us  be  thankful  that  the  war  is  over, 
and  that  the  asperities  and  ill-feeling  pertaining  to  it  are  passing 
away.  As  we  received  reports  from  southern  correspondents,  and 
read  the  names  of  soldiers — fallen,  or  surviving — Hugh,  John, 
Samuel,  William,  Frank,  it  seemed  like  the  roll-call  of  our  own 
grandfather's  family.  And  our  Confederate  kinsmen,  as  they 
look  through  this  family  history,  may  have  a  kindred  feeling  as 
they  note  the  names  of  federal  soldiers,  Hugh,  John,  Samuel, 
James,  Thomas,  Robert,  Charles  and  Joseph ! 

Time  and  Providence  have  had  a  wonderfully  unifying  power. 
One  name,  one  history,  one  country,  one  flag! 

It  is  not    claimed  that  we  have    found  and    registered  all  the 


lyo  Scotch-Irish    McEIroys 

Scotch-Irish  McEIroys  in  America.  It  is  only  an  approach  toward 
it.  We  have  done  the  best  we  could.  A  few — a  very  few — made 
no  reply  to  our  letters  of  inquiry,  were  "dumb  with  silence,"  and 
of  course  their  names  and  records  do  not  appear.  There  must  be 
many  of  our  people  in  California.  From  most  of  our  cor- 
respondents came  the  report  of  some  member  of  the  family  having 
gone  to  California,  but  no  address  given. 

Our  inquiries  have  brought  courteous  replies  from  several 
Catholic  McEIroys,  of  the  class  that  Froude  speaks  of  as  Irish- 
Irish.  Hugh  McElroy,  a  merchant  of  Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  and  James 
W.  McElroy,  city  attorney  of  Baltimore.  From  several  sources 
we  hear  of  a  "Father  John  McElroy,"  Catholic  priest,  who  died 
a  few  years  since  at  Frederick,  Md.,  at  the  age  of  ninety-five. 

We  hear  of  a  Professor  McElroy,  who  figured  as  a  teacher  in 
New  York  City  some  forty  years  since,  principal  of  public  school 
in  Baxter  street ;  a  learned  scholar,  and  a  successful  teacher,  with 
humorous  and  fun-loving  peculiarities  which  made  him  immensely 
popular  with  his  "boys."  He  had  a  unique  way  of  taking  notice 
of  Washington's  Birthday.  On  the  evening  preceding,  just  before 
dismissal,  he  would  have  his  boys  all  drawn  up  in  line,  and  very 
gravely  would  say:  "Now  boys,  what  day  is  to-morrow?"  In 
chorus  they  would  answer,  "Washington's  Birthday."  "Who  was 
George  Washington  ?"  the  teacher  would  ask,  still  with  solemn 
formality.  The  answer  came  promptly  "First  in  war,  first  in  peace, 
and  first  in  the  hearts  of  his  countrymen,"  and  then  all  would  go 
into  a  vigorous  breakdown  performance,  stepping  in  unison,  and 
yet  with  the  gravity  of  a  regular  school  exercise. 

"Right  ye  are,"  McElroy  would  reply,  "take  a  holiday  to- 
morrow." The  boys  did  not  forget  this  drill.  Years  later  when 
their  teacher  was  in  his  grave,  the  old  boys  appeared,  during  the 
Washington  Centennial  in  1889,  upon  the  streets,  in  groups,  ask- 
ing in  unison  "Who  was  George  Washington?"  Then  giving 
the  reply  and  the  break-down.  The  prank  took,  and  spread  almost 
all  over  the  city,  though  few  knew  its  origin.  The  Professor's 
Christian  name  we  did  not  learn,  and  whether  he  really  belonged 
to  the  Scotch  stock  was  a  question  that  we  did  not  care  to  press 
too  far. 


Notes — Kinship  171 

A  Carolina  correspondent  writes  under  date  of  November  24, 
1900,  that  a  Mr.  William  McElroy,  bachelor,  died  intestate  at  or 
near  Asheville  a  few  years  ago,  leaving  an  estate  of  $10,000,  for 
which  no  heirs  had  been  found  unless  very  recently.  The  matter 
is  believed  to  be  still  in  the  Probate  Court  at  Asheville,  N.  C. 

Our  latest  item  of  McElroy  news  is  from  the  San  Francisco 
Chronicle  of  December  9,  1900.  Sister  Sanghamitta,  the  Budd- 
hist nun,  had  just  arrived,  returning  from  Ceylon.  She  was  born 
in  Texas,  daughter  of  Captain  McElroy,  who  is  said  to  have  been 
of  old  Pennsylvania  stock.  Her  mother  was  a  Castillian.  Her 
early  years  were  passed  in  Mexico.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  she 
married  a  Mr.  Bates  and  resided  in  Oakland,  where  she  was  left 
a  widow  with  three  children.  Her  second  husband  was  Count 
Canavarro,  Minister  from  Portugal  to  the  Hawaiian  Islands,  by 
whom  she  had  a  son,  now  sixteen  years  old.  Some  years  ago  she 
became  enamored  of  Theosophy,  and  under  the  tutorship  of 
Dharmapala,  the  Buddhist  priest,  who  figured  in  the  parliament  of 
religions,  was  inducted  into  the  mysteries  of  Buddhism.  Three 
years  ago  she  renounced  Christianity  and  turned  her  back  upon 
her  family  and  native  country  and  went  to  the  Orient  as  priestess 
and  missionary.  She  will  return,  later,  to  her  mission  and  medita- 
tion in  India. 

The  McElroys  are  human,  all  of  them  fallible,  and  some,  erratic. 


INDEX 


PAGE 

BUCKS    COUNTY   McELROYS 15 

KENTUCKY    McELROYS 21 

Abram,*    (Samuel,^  James^) 31,  34 

Abram,*  (Samuel,^  Samuel,^  James^^) ...  33 
Addie,^       (Hiram,*       Hugh,'       Samuel,^ 

James^)     36,  46 

Alvey  N.,*  (James  P.,'  Samuel,-  James^^)  34 
Alice,"     Keturah,*     Samuel,*     Samuel,^ 

James^)    42 

Anne,"     (Proctor,*     Samuel,*     Samuel,^ 

James^)    42 

Annie,"  (Frank  B.,*  James  P.,'  Samuel,^ 

James^)    44 

Apolita,*    (James   P.,*   Samuel,*  James^)  34 

Archibald,^   (James^)    22 

Archibald,'  (Archibald,^  James^) 23,  24 

Archibald,*       (Archibald,*       Archibald,^ 

James^)    26 

Alice      Ann,*      (William      I.,*      James,^ 
James^)    30 

Barbara,"     (Hiram,*     Hugh,*     Samuel,^ 

James^)    36 

Belfield,*  (James  P.,*  Samuel,^  James^)  34 
Benjamin,*  (Samuel,*  Samuel,^  James^)  .  33 
Benjamin,"  (He-'-^y,*  Samuel,*  Samuel,^ 

James^)    41 

Benjamin   A.,"    (Benjamin   N.,*  Abram,* 

Samuel,"  James^)   44 

Benjamin       N.,*       (Abram,*       Samuel,^ 

Jamesi)    34,  44 

Bettie  F.,"  (J.  A.  B.,*  Abram,*  Samuel,^ 

James^ )    44 

Brenetta,*  (James  P.,*  Samuel,^  James^)  34 
Buckner,"    (Abram,*    Samuel,*    Samuel, ^ 

James' )    42 

Camilla,*  (Wi»liam  I.,*  James,*  James')  .  30 
Carrie    L.,*     (Hiram,"    Hiram,*    Hugh,* 

Samuel,*  James'^)    47 

Caswell,'  (Hiram,"  Hiram,*  Hugh,*  Sam- 
uel,* James'-)    47 


PAGE 

Cecil,*  (William  E.,*  Samuel,*  James')  32,  39 
Celia,"    (Robert,*   William    E.,*   Samuel,* 

James')    39 

Cetta,'    (John,"  James   C.,*  John,*   Sam- 
uel,* James')   36 

Charles,"  (Franklin  B.,*  James  P.,»  Sam- 
uel,* James')    44 

Charlotte,*  (William  I.,*  James,*  James')   30 
Cicely  Ann,*  (Abram,*  Samuel,*  James')   35 
Clarence    U.,"    (Abram,*    Samuel,*    Sam- 
uel,* James')   42 

Cordelia   F.,"    (J.   A.   B.,*  Abram,*  Sam- 
uel,* James')    45 

Courtney  W.,'  (Hiram,"  Hiram,*  Hugh,* 
Samuel,*  James')    47 

Edward     H.,"     (Robert,*     William     E.,* 

Samuel,*  James')    38 

Edward,"  (Addie,"  Hiram,*  Hugh,*  Sam- 
uel,* James')    46 

Effie,"    (Samuel    G.,"    Hervey,*    Samuel,* 

Samuel,*  James')    52 

Eliza,*  (William  E.,*  Samuel,*  James,') . .   37 
Eliza  J.,"  (James  M.,*  Archibald,*  Archi- 
bald,* James')    25 

Elizabeth,*   (James,*  James')    29 

Elizabeth,*  (Samuel,*  James')    31 

Elizabeth,*  (Samuel,*  Samuel,*  James')..  33 
Elizabeth,*  (Abram,*  Samuel,*  James')..  35 
Elizabeth,"    (James  C.,*  John,*  Samuel,* 

James')    32 

Elizabeth  M.,"   (Hervey,*  Samuel.*  Sam- 
uel,* James')   40 

Ella,'    (John,"    James    C.,*    John,'    Sam- 
uel,* James')    36 

Emma,"    (Hugh,"   Hiram,*   Hugh,'    Sam- 
uel,* James')    45 

Eva  M.,"   (J.   A.   B.,*  Abram,'  Samuel,* 

James')    45 

Esther,'  (James,*  James')   29 

Esther,*  (William  I.,*  James,*  James')..  30 
Ellen,"   (W.   C*  Archibald,'  Archibald,* 

James')    25,  27 

Ella,'   (Hugh,"  Hiram,*  Hugh,'  Samuel,* 
James')    46 


174 


Index  —  Kentucky    M  c  Elroys 


PAGE 

Rev.  Franklin  B.,*  (James  P.,*  Samuel,^ 

James^)     34.  44 

Franklin,^  (Franklin  B.,*  James  P.,^ 
Samuel,^  Tamest)    44 

Franklin.s  (Robert,*  William  E.,^  Sam- 
uel,- James^)   39 

Frank  B.,^  (Samuel  R.,*  William  E.,3 
Samuel,^  Jamcs^ )    40 

George  Whitfield,*  (^amuel.s  Samuel,^ 
James^)    33 

George  Whitfield,^  (Abram,*  Samuel,* 
Samuel,^  James^)    42 

George  Sneed,^  (Hugh  S.,*  Samuel,* 
Samuel,^  James^)    43 

Harvey,*  ( ,*  Hugh,^  James^)   42 

Henry,*   Samuel   G.,^   Hervey,*   Samuel,* 

Samuel,^  James^)    52 

Herbert    Lee,'     (Robert,*    William    E.,* 

Samuel,-  James^)    39 

Hervey,*  (Samuel,*  Samuel,-  James^) .  .  40 
Hervey,'    (Hervey,*    Samuel,*    Samuel,^ 

James^)    41 

Hiram,*  (Hugh,*  Samuel,^  James^) 36 

Hiram,^       (Hiram,*      Hugh,*      Samuel,^ 

James^)    47 

Hiram,*   (Hiram,^  Hiram,*  Hugh,*  Sam- 

uel,2  James*)    47 

Hugh,2  (James*)    22 

Hugh,*  (Hugh,2  Jamesi)    28 

Hugh,*  (Samuel,^  James*)    30 

Hugh       Sneed,*       (Samuel,*       Samuel,^ 

James*)    43 

Hugh,^       (Hiram,*       Hugh,*       Samuel,^ 

James*)    36 

Irvine,^  (Paul  I.,*  William  E.,*  Sam- 
uel,* James*)    38 

Isaac  I.,^  (Proctor,*  Samuel,*  Samuel,^ 
James*)    43 

James*   21 

James,*  (James*)   29 

James.*  (Archibald,-  Jarccs*)   23 

James,*  (Hugh,*  James*)   28 

James  A.,*   (James,^  James*) 29 

James  P.,*  (Samuel,*  James*) 33 

James      M.,*      (Archibald,*      Archibald,* 

James*)    25 

James     F.,*      (William     E.,*     Samuel,* 

James*)    39 


PAGE 

James  C.,*  (John,*  Samuel,*  James*)  ....  31 
James  A.  B.,*  (Abram,*  Samuel,*  James*)  35 
James     D..^     (Samuel     R.,*     Archibald,* 

Archibald,*  James*)    26 

James,'*       (Hiram,*       Hugh,*       Samuel,* 

James*) 36 

James  C.,'  (Robert,*  William  E.,*  Sam- 
uel,* James*)    39 

James    E.,*    (Samuel    R.,*   William    E.,* 

Samuel,*  James*)    ....   40 

James  A.  B.,°  (J.  A.  B.,*  Abram,*  Sam- 
uel,- James*)    44 

James,^       (Hiram,*       Hugh,*       Samuel,* 

James*)    47 

James,*  (John  W..^  John,*  John,*  Archi- 
bald,* James*)    23 

James    M.,*    (William    R.,^    Samuel    R.,* 

William  E.,*  Samuel,*  James*) 5^ 

Jennie,^    (Paul,*    William    E.,*    Samuel,* 

James*)    38 

Josie,"    (Samuel   G.,^   Hervey,*    Samuel,* 

Samuel,*  James*)    52 

John,*  (James*)   22 

John,*  (Archibald,*  James*) 23 

John,*   (John,*  Archibald,^  James*) 23 

John,*  (Hugh,*  James*)   28 

John,*  (Samuel,*  James*)    31 

John  L.,*  (Abram,*  Samuel,*  James*)...  43 
John     VV.,6     (John,*    John,*    Archibald,* 

James*)    23 

John,'     (James     C.,*     John,*     Samuel,^ 

James*)    35 

John  S.,«  (John  W.,'  John,*  John,*  Sam- 
uel,* James*)   24 

John,"  (Hugh,'  Hiram,*  Hugh,*  Samuel,* 

James*)    46 

John,9  (Addie,'  Hiram,*  Hugh,*  Samuel,* 
James*)    46 

Keturah,*  (William  E.,*  Samuel,*  James*)   33 
Keturah  J.,*  (Samuel,*  Samuel,*  James*)   33 
Keturah,'    (P.    E-A-ards,*    William    E.,* 
Samuel,''  James*)    37 

Laura  B.,'  (John  L.,*  Abram,*  Samuel,* 
James*)    43 

Len,'  (Hiram,*  Hugh,*  Samuel,*  James*)   47 

Len,*  Hiram,'  Hiram,*  Hugh,*  Samuel,* 
James*)    47 

Lilly,'  (Samuel  R.,*  William  E.,»  Sam- 
uel,* James*)   40 

Lilly,*  (John.'  James  C.,*  John,'  Sam- 
uel,* James*)    36 


Index  —  Kentucky    M c Elroys 


175 


PAGE 

Litie,^  (Abram,*  Samuel,^  Samuel,^ 
James^)     42 

Lizzie,*   (Samuel  G.,^  Hervey,''  Samuel,^ 

Samuel,^  James^)    52 

Lucy  Ann,'*  (William  E.,^  Samuel," 
Jamesi)    . 32,  39 

Lucetta,^  (James  C.,*  John,^  Samuel,^ 
Jamesi)    31 

Lucy,*  (John,^  James  C.,*  John,^  Sam- 
uel,^ James^)    35 

Margaret    Y..,^    (James    M.,*    Archibald,^ 

Archibald,^  James^)    25 

Margaret,*      Archibald,*      Archibald, - 

James^)    24 

Margaret,^  (Hugh,^  James^)    28 

Margaret,*  ( James,^  James^)    29 

Margaret,*  (William  I.,*  James,^  James^)    30 

Margaret,*  (Samuel,^  James^)    30 

Margaret,*       (William       E.,*       Samuel,- 

James^)    32 

Margaret    H.,^     (Robert,*    William    E.,* 

Samuel,^  James^)    38 

Martha,*  (Archibald,*  Archibald,^  James^)  27 
Martha     E.,^     (James     M.,*    Archibald,* 

Archibald,^  James^)    25 

Martha    E.,^    (Samuel    R.,*    Archibald,* 

Archibald,^  James^)   27 

Martha,^      (Hiram,*      Hugh,*      Samuel,^ 

James^)     36 

Martha    L.     R.,^     (Hugh    S.,*    Samuel,* 

Samuel,^  James^)    43 

Mary,*  (Hugh,^  James^)    28 

Mary,*   (James,^  James^)    29 

Mary,*   (Samuel,^  James^)    31 

Mary  M.,*  (Abram,*  Samuel,^  James^)  .  .  34 
Mary  E.,*-  (James  M.,*  Archibald,*  Archi- 
bald,- James^)    25 

Mary  Ann,^  (James  C.,*  John,*  Samuel, ^ 

Jamesi)    31 

Mary    E.,^     (Hiram,*    Hugh,*    Samuel,^ 

James^)     36 

Mary  L.,^  (Robert,*  WilHam  E.,*  Sam- 
uel,^ James^ )   38 

Mary    R.,^    (Samuel    R.,*    William    E.,* 

Samuel,^  James^)    40 

Mary,^      (Proctor,*     Samuel,*      Sam.uel,^ 

James^)    43 

Mary   E.,^   (John   L.,*  Abram,*   Samuel, ^ 

James^)    43 

Mary    L.,*    (William    R.,^    Samuel    R.,* 

William    E.,*    Samuel,^   James^)  .  .  .  .    52 


PAGE 

Mamie,^  (Franklin  B.,*  James  P.,*  Sam- 
uel,2  James^)    44 

Mollie,^  (Hervey,*  Samuel,*  Samuel- 
James^)    41 

Mollie,"  (Hugh,5  Hiram,*  Hugh,*  Sam- 
uel," James^)    46 

Mollie*  (Addie,^  Hiram,*  Hugh,*  Sam- 
uel,^ James^)    46 

Maria,*   (William  E.,*  Samuel,-  James^)   32 

Marion  B,,*  (Samuel,*  Samuel,^  Jamesi)   33 

Marion,^  (Keturah,*  Samuel,*  Samuel,^ 
Jamesi)    42 

Mattie  E.,6  (Archibald.*  Archibald,* 
Archibald,^   James^) 26 

Mattie,"  (John,5  James  C.,*  John,*  Sam- 
uel,^  James^)   35 

Mattie,*  (Addie,5  Hiram,*  Hugh,*  Sam- 
uel,^ James^)   46 

Mattie,*  (Samuel  G.,^  Hervey,*  Sam- 
uel,*  Samuel,^  James^) 52 

Milford,*  (James  P.,*  Samuel,^  James^)  .    34 

Minnie,^  (Abram,*  Samuel,*  Samuel,^ 
James^)    42 

Nancy,*  (Samuel,^  James^) 31 

Nanny,5    (Paul    L,*    William    E.,*    Sam- 

uel,2  James^)   38 

Nellie,*    (Charles,^    Franklin    B.,*  James 

P.,')    44 

Nellie     R..*     (Hiram.^     Hiram,*    Hugh,* 

Samuel,^  James^)    47 

Nicholas,*     (John     W.,5     John,*     John,* 

Archibald,^  Jamesi)    23 

Paul    L,*  (William  E.,*  Samuel,"  James^)  38 

Paulina,*  (WilHam  E.,*  Samuel,^  Jamesi)  37 
Proctor.s     (William     I.,*     William     E.,* 

Samuel,^  James^)    38 

Proctor  W.,*  (Samuel,*  Samuel,^  James^)  33 

Robert  A.,*  (Hugh,2  James^) 28 

Robert  L.,*  (William  E.,*  Samuel,^ 
Jamesi)    38 

Robert,^  (Archibald,*  Archibald,*  Archi- 
bald,2  James^)    26 

Robert  L.,^  (Samuel  R.,*  William  E.,* 
Samuel,-  James^)    40 

Robert,*  (John  W.,^  John,*  John,*  Archi- 
bald,^ James^)    23 

Robert  A.,*  (James  C^  Robert,*  Wil- 
liam  E.,*   Samuel,^  James^) 39 

Robert  O.,*  (William  R.,^  Samuel  R.,* 
William  E.,*  Samuel,-  James^) 52 


176 


Index  —  Kentucky    M  c  Elroys 


PAGE 

Sallie  A.,*  (William  I.,^  James,-  James^)   30 
Sallie,8    (Hugh.s    Hiram,*    Hugh,^    Sam- 
uel,^ James^^)   46 

Samuel,^    (James^)    30 

Samuel,*  (Hugh,^  James>)    28 

Samuel,*  (Samuel,^  James^) 33 

Samuel     R.,*     (Archibald.*     Archiliald,- 

James"^)    26 

Samuel,*   (John,*  Samuel,^  James^) 31 

Samuel     R.,*     (William     E.,*     Samuel," 

James"^)    40 

Samuel  D.,*  (Samuel,*  Samuel,^  James^)   41 
Samuel     J.,^     (James     M.,*     Archibald,* 

Archibald,^  James'^)    25 

Samuel     B.,^      (Robert,*     William     E.,* 

Samuel,^  James^)    39 

Samuel   A.,^    (William   I.,*  William   E.,* 

Samuel,-  James^)    39 

Samuel  G.,^  (Hervey,*  Samuel,*  Sam- 
uel,^ James*)    52 

Samuel,^    (Proctor,*    Samuel,*    Samuel, - 

James*)    4  ? 

Samuel    M.,^    (Samuel    R.,*    Archibald,* 

Archibald,^  James*)    27 

Sarah,*    (Hugh,^  James*)    28 

Sarah,*    (Samuel,^   James*)    30 

Sarah,^  (Archibald,*  Archibald,*  Archi- 
bald,- James*)    26 

Sarah    A.,^     (Samuel     R.,*    Archibald,* 

Archibald,"  James*)    26 

Sarah    R.,5    (P.    Edwards,*   William   E.,* 

Samuel, =  James*)    37 

Sarah   F.,^    (S.    Darius,*  Samuel,*   Sam- 

uel,2  James*) 41 

Sue,^  (Hiram,*  Hugh,*  Samuel,^  James*)    36 
Sue,'   (Hugh,^  Hiram,*  Hugh,*  Samuel- 
James*)    45 

Susan      E.,*      (Archibald,*      Archibald,^ 

James*)    24 

Susan  M.,5  (Cecil,*  William  E.,*  Sam- 
uel,* James*)   39 

Susie     M.,8     (Benjamin     N.,*     Abram,* 

Samuel,*  James*)    44 

Sydney  G.,*  (James  P.,*  Samuel,* 
James*)    34 

Thomas  A.,''  (James  M.,*  Archibald,* 
Archibald,*  James*)    25 

Thomas  C.,^  (Hervey,*  Samuel,*  Sam- 
uel,* James*)    41 

Thomas  S.,*  (William  I.,*  James,- 
James*)    30 


PAGE 

V^iola,"  (Hiram,5  Hiram,*  Hugh,*  Sam- 
uel,* James*)    47 

Wallace  W.,^  (Keturah,*  Samuel,*  Sam- 
uel,* James*)    42 

Walter,'   (Charles,^   Franklin   B.,*  James 

P.^)    44 

Warner  F.,^  (J.  A.  B.,*  Abram,*  Sam- 
uel,* James*)   45 

William,*  (Archibald,*  James*)    24 

William,*  (Hugh,*  James*)    28 

William  I.,*  (James,*  James*) 30 

William  E.,*   (Samuel,*  James*)    31 

William     C.,*     (Archibald,*     Archibald,* 

James*)    24 

William      I.,*      (William      I.,*      James,* 

James* )    30 

William     T.,*     (William     E.,*     Samuel,* 

James*)    39 

William     I., 5     (Archibald,*     Archibald,* 

Archibald,*  James*)    26 

William    H..^    (Samuel    R.,*    Archibald,* 

Archibald.*  James*)    26 

William     R.,^     (Robert,*     William     E.,* 

Samuel,*  James*)    38 

WilHam,6      (James      F.,*     William      E.,* 

Samuel,*  James*)    40 

William   R.,s   (Samuel   R.,*  William  E.,* 

Samuel,*  James*)    51 

William,^     (Franklin     B.,*     James     P.,* 

Samuel,-  James*)    44 

William,'     (John,^     James     C.,*     John,* 

Samwel,*  James*)    35 

William    B.,«    (Hugh.s    Hiram,*    Hugh,* 

Samuel,*  James*)    46 

William  R.,'   (William   R.,^  Samuel   R.,* 

William  E.,*  Samuel,*  James*) 52 

OTHER    FAMILY    NAMES 

Abell,    R.    W 46 

Abel,    Samuel    45 

Allen,   Gen. 29 

Allen,   Ida 39 

Arnold,  M.  E 45 

Bailey,  J 46 

Bellotte,    Rebecca 26 

Blackwell,   Hundlie 35 

Blythe,    Dr 29 

Bowen,    Mrs 24 

Briggs,  Miss  Marion 41 

Brown,    Daniel    W 40 


Index  —  Kentucky    M c Elroys 


177 


PAGE 

Brown,    Fannie 32 

Buckner,   !Niary 42 

Campbell,  Thomas  W 30 

Campbell,  W.  R 30 

Carter,  Thomas 31 

Cassiday,    Eliza 32 

Chandler,    Richard 38 

Chapman,    Mary 39 

Cleland,    Rosa 35 

Clements,    Mary 36 

Craig,    Susan 25 

Craig,   Martha 24 

Cleaver,  Dr.  W.  W 29 

Curry,    Mary 37 

Curtis,   Rev.   E.   L 45 

Cleland,  Keturah 32 

Cochrane,  Andrew 35 

Chapman,    James 37 

Daniels,   J 46 

Dickerson,    Benjamin   F 51 

Dickerson,  VV.  W 51 

Edmonds,  R.  B 38 

Ely,    Anita 45 

Ely,  Rev.  B.  E.  S.,  Sr 45 

Ely,  Rev.  B.  E.  S.,  Jr 45 

Ely,  Charles  W 45 

Ely,  George  M 45 

Ely,   Laura 43 

Ely,   Rose   Moore 45 

Everhart,    Martin 32 

Field,   Elizabeth 41 

Findley,  Cordelia  F 35 

Fogle,   Mattie 35 

Foreman,  Calvin 44 

Foreman,  Eliza 34 

Foreman,  Paul  F 44 

Foreman,  Laura  Dean 44 

Froman,    Fannie 38 

Froman,  Mary 50 

Fuller,  Rev.  J 44 

Garten,   G.    H 29 

Garten,  Lizzie 41 

Gates,  Sarah 49 

Gibbs,  Lydia 32 

Gibbs,  Margaret 50 

Gibbs,  Margaret  M 37 

Gibbs,  Thomas  P 37 

Gibbs,  William  E 37 


PAGE 

Gilkie,  Barbara 30 

Goodpasture,  J.  B 42 

Gorin,  Rev.  M.  C 50 

Gorin,  Alice 50 

Goiin,   Fred 50 

Gorin,  Grant 50 

Gorin,  Maud 50 

Greathouse,  Grafton 46 

Greathouse,  James 46 

Greathouse,  McElroy 46 

Greathouse,  Tillie 46 

Greathouse,  W.  R 46 

Greathouse,  W.  R.  Jr 46 

Greathouse,  VVaverly 46 

Grundy,  James  A 35 

Grundy,  January 35 

Grundy,  John  L 35 

Grundy,    Susan 35 

Grundy,  Felix  B 29 

Grundy,  Jane  B 33 

Grundy,  George  W 35 

Griffith,  Dr.  B.  M 30 

Handley,  Alexander 31 

Handley,  James 31 

Handley,   Mary 31 

Harrison,    Lydia 43 

Harty,  P.  C 38 

Harris,  Louisa 46 

Higginson,  Cyrus 47 

Higginson,  Green 47 

Higginson,  Birdie 47 

Higginson,  Ord 47 

Higginson,    Mattie 47 

Higginson,  Annie 47 

Higginson,  Vara 47 

Higginson,  Ruth 47 

Hudnall,  J.   R 50 

HudnaU,  Annie  Maria 50 

Hughes,    Elizabeth 38 

Hughes,    Lizzie 32 

Howell,   Joseph 35 

Hubbard,  Dr 33 

Irvine,  Rev.  John 22 

Irvine,  Esther 28 

Irvine,  Margaret 28 

Irvine,  Mary 28 

Irvine,   Nancy 21 

Kelly,  May 51 

Kimball,  Marion 51 

Kirk,  Mary 32 


178 


Index  —  Kentucky    M  c Elroys 


PAGE 

Knott,  Joseph  P 32 

Knott,   William   T 48,    158 

Knott,  Keturah 49 

Knott,   Samuel  C 49 

Knott,  Minnie 36 

Knott,  J.  Proctor 50 

Knott,    Edwards   W 50 

Knott,  Annie  M 50 

Knott,  Joanna 50 

Knott,  Joseph  M 48 

Knott,  William  Walter 48 

Knott,  William  S 49 

Knott,  J.  Proctor,  Jr 49 

Knott,  Samuel  Proctor 49 

Knott,   Annie    Maria 50 

Knott,  Kate  Grundy 49 

Knott,  Jennie  Marion 49 

Knott,   Elizabeth 49 

Knott,    Joseph 49 

Knott,   Benjamin 49 

Knott,    Edwards 49 

Knott,     Minnie 49 

Knott,  Annie 49 

Knott,     Samuel 49 

Ligon,  Charles  D.  W 27 

Ligon,   Harriet   S 27 

Lindo,  S.  E 45 

Logan,  Annie 38 

Lyle,  Robert 35 

McCarthy,   Dr 39 

Macauley,   Mary 47 

McColgan,    William 43 

McCoy,  Mattie 50 

McCuUy ,    Stephen 24 

McCune,  Sarah 21 

McCurdy,  A.   H.   P 38 

McReynolds,   Willis 30 

Mason,    Basil 31 

Mason,  Burgess   Burr 35 

Mason,  William  Basil 35 

Mason,  William  B 35 

Mason,  Alexander  H 35 

Mason,  Mary  H 35 

Mayes,  A.   Scott 37 

Mayes,  Keturah 37 

Mayes,   Eusebias 37 

Mayes,  William 37 

Miller,  Edward 38 

Miller,  Mary  L 39 

Montgomery,   E .  . .  •. 42 


PAGE 

Montgomery,  Margaret 42 

Moore,  Minnie 44 

Moore,  Rev.  Samuel  F 45 

Muldrow,  Capt.  John 28 

Muldrow,    Andrew 28 

Muldrow,    Hugh 28 

Muldrow,    Esther 29 

Muldrow,   James 29 

Muldrow,  Jane 29 

Muldrow,    William 29 

Muldrow,  John 29 

Muldrow,   Samuel 29 

Muldrow,    Mary 29 

Muldrow,    John   A 44 

Muldrow,  Annie 44 

Muldrow,   Rose 44 

Muldrow,  Gertrude 44 

Muldrow,  Roda   44 

Nesbitt,  Robert  J 49 

Nesbilt,    James 49 

Nesbitt,   Robert 49 

Pierce,   Lula 49 

Priest,   T.    F 44 

Priest,  Willena    44 

Porter,    Ann 34 

Radford,  William 35 

Raney,   J.    Cleland 32 

Rawling,   Wells 49 

Rawling,  William 49 

Rawling,    Proctor 49 

Rawling,    Minnie 49 

Rawling,    Mattie 49 

Rawling,    Annie 49 

Ray,    Samuel   F 38,  39 

Ray,   Franklin 36 

Ray,  William  E 38 

Ray,    Elizabeth 38 

Ray,  Priscilla 38 

Ray,  Anna  E 38 

Ray,    Lucy 38 

Ray,  McEIroy 39 

Ray,  Maggie 39 

Ray,  Paul  l' 39 

Ray,   Lee  D 39 

Ray,  Charles  F 39 

Reed,    Belle 33 

Reed,  Mary  Belle 40 

Rhodes,  Mary   44 

Ridout,  V^'illiam,  M.  D 27 


Index  —  Big    Spring    M c Elroys. . 


179 


PAGE 

Ridout,    Harriet    S 27 

Ridout,  John,  M.  D 27 

Ridout,    Prudence   G 27 

Robbins,  George   31 

Rose,   Uriah  M 51 

Rose,  John  M 51 

Rose,  William  G 51 

Rose,  Wallace  D 51 

Rose,  George  B 51 

Rose,    Fanny 5 1 

Ro'e,    Ellen 51 

Rose,    Emma 51 

Rose,   Charles  C 51 

Rose,   Lewis   Henry 51 

Rose,  Jessie  Alice 51 

Rowntree,    Lillie 39 

Rubel,    Msttie 48 

Senour,    Hiram 46 

Senour,    Belle 46 

Senour,  Dish 46 

Senour,    Fanny 46 

Senour,    James 46 

Shepard,   James   B 43 

Simpson,    Harriet 25 

Simpson,    James 29 

Simpson,    John 28 

Simpson,    Margaret 29 

Simpson,  Jane 29 

Simpson,   Esther 29 

Simpson,     William 40 

Skiles,  Lucy  Ann 31 

Skiles,    Eliza 41 

Skiles,    Ellen 40 

Spalding,  Benedict. .    23 

Steele,   William 26 

Steele,  Robert  Aaron 26 

Steele,  Sarah  Jane 26 

Steele,  Martha  Agnes 26 

Tappan,    Harry 40 

Tate,  Mary  Ann 33 

Tale,    Sarah 42 

Thomas,    William 44 

Turner,  George 45 

Turner,    Francis 45 

Twon)bly,   Israel 34 

Twombly,   Mary  E 44 

Wakefield,  Joseph  W 39 

Watts,    Carrie 47 

Webb,    Clayton 25 

Webb,    William 25 


PAGE 

Webb.     Catharine 25 

Webb,  James,  M.  D 25 

Webb,  Annie 25 

Webb,  Charles  Archibald,  M.  D 25 

Webb,    Robert 25 

Webb,     Florence 25 

Webb,    Margaret 25 

Webb,  Lou 25 

Webb,   Samuel   R 25 

West,    John 44 

West,    Eva 44 

Wilkes,  Thomas,  Sr 27 

Wilkes,  Thomas  M.,  Jr 27 

Wilson,  James 30 

Wilson,  George 31 

Wilson,    N 30 

BIG   SPRING  McELROYS 85 

INDEX    TO    HEADS    OF    FAMILIES 
NAME    OF   McELROY 

Abram*    56 

Addison  H.,8  (John  M^) 79 

Alexander*    65 

Andrew,^  (Hugh,-  Hugh^) 54 

Charles    Murray,*    (William    M.,^   James 
E»     59 

Charles  Sumner,^  (Hugh,^  Ebenezer,*)  . .   71 

David  W.5   80,  54 

Ebenezer  E.,*  (Hugh.s  John,^) 68 

Ebenezer    E.,«    (Thomas    G.,^    Ebenezer 
li*)     73 

Hughi    S3 

Hugh^ 54 

Hugh,3  ( John^ )    64 

Hugh,*  (Andrevir,^  Hugh^) 54 

Hugh,5  (Ebenezer  E..*  Hugh^) 71 

Hugh  Eddie,«  (Hughs) 7^ 

Hugh  Nevin,6  (Thomas  G.^) 77 

John,2  (Hughi)    '55 

John.3   (Robert^)    54 

John,^  (John2)   55 

John,*    (John.s   Robert^) 54 

John,<  (Robert,*  Robert^)    54 

John  Andrew,^  (Hugh*)    55 

John, 5  (Ebenezer*)    77 


i8o 


Index  —  Rich    Hill    McElroys 


PAGE 

John  M.,5  (Ebenezer  E.,*  Hugh*) 77 

James*  (John,*  Robert^)    54 

James  Ervin,*  (John'  John^) 56 

James  Ervin,^  (James  E.*) 57 

James  Kerr,^  (Hugh') 71 

James  F.,"   (Thomas  G.,'   Ebenezer   E.*)  75 
John    Mercer,*    (Thomas    G.,''    Ebenezer 

E»     76 

Joseph,*    (John^)    55,  62 

Joseph,*    (John,*  John") 59 

Joseph  K.,''  (Hugh,*  Andrew*) 55 

Mason  K.,'  (Robert  D.,^  Joseph*) 61 

Robert^ 54 

Robert*    54 

Robert  Duncan,^   (Joseph*) 61 

Robert  N.,«   (Thomas  G.^) 74 

Richard,*    (John,*  Andrew*) 54 

Samuel,^   (John,*  Andrew*) 54 

Thomas,*  (John,*  Robert') 54 

Thomas  Gborrrley,^  (Ebenezer  E.*) 72 

Thomas      Clifford,'       (Ebenezer      E.,« 
Thomas  G.^)    74 

William  Montgomery,^  (James  E.*)   58,  157 

William  J.,''    (James  E.') 57 

William  O.,*  (Hugh,'  Ebenezer  E.*)  ....    71 

O'lHER  FAMILY  NAMES 
Albee,  E.  A 57 

Brown,  D.   S 57 

Beard,  Everett  R 79 

Cummin,  Mrs.   Levinia 67 

Curran,   James   B 70 

Curran,  John  M 71 

Dickson,  Rev  William,  D.  D 81,  54 

Duncan,    Oscar    76 

Griffith,    Charles 68 

Hart,  William 66 

Hart,  Robert  S 67 

Hart,  Hugh,  M.  D 67 

Kerr,   Robert 72 

Kerr,  James   B 72 

Kerr,  T.  Chalmers 72 


PAGE 

Lee,    Henry   1 61 

Moir,    James 79 

Moir,  Joseph  M 61 

Moir,  Rev.   William  Wilmerding 79 

Moir,  Arthur  D 62 

Oxer.    John 62 

Parrett,  Marcus  A 72 

Parrett,  Lewis  W 72 

Rider,    Lorenzo 56 

Rider,  William  S 56 

Robinson,    Robert 66 

Rodgers,   Henry   Harrison 66 

Rodgers,  William 67 

Templeton,  William 71 

Templeton,  Dr.  K.  M 71 

Vanatta,    Joseph 71 

Van  Epps,  C.  V 57 

Winstead,  Jacob  P 71 

Walker,    John 62 

Walker,    James 62 

RICH   HILL  McELROYS 85 

Alexander,-  (James^)    84 

Alexander,*   (John,-  James^) 87 

Alexander,*   (James,*  John*) 86 

A 1  e  X  a  n  d  e  r,s      (William,*     Alexander,* 

John2)    88 

•  vlexander  M.,*  (James,*  Alexander*)...  94 

Alexander  M.,'  (James,*  Alexander*)...  88 

Ebenezer,*   (John,*  James^) 90 

Ebenezer  B.,*   (James,*  John*) 95 

Edward,'  (James,*  Alexander,*  John*) . .  88 

Frank,'   (William,*  Alexander*) 88 

James^   83 

James,*  (James^)   95 

James,*  (John*)   85 

James,*  (James*)   95 

James,*  (Alexander*)   93 

James,*   (James,*  John*) 86 

James,*   (John,*  John*) 90 

James,*   (Alexander,*  John*) 87 


Index  —  Albany    M c Elroys 


i8i 


PAGE 

John,2  (James^)   84 

John.s  (John2)   89 

John,*  Jaraes^)   95 

John,*  (James.s  John^) 86 

John,*  (Alexander,*  John^) 87 

John,*   (John,*  John^) 89 

Joseph,*   (James,^  James^) 95 

Joseph,*  (Alexander,*  John^) 88 

Smith  E.,*  (James,*  John^) 86 

Thomas,*  (Ebenezer,*  John^) 91 

William,*   (Alexander,*  John^) 88 

William  Lincoln,^  (James,*  John,*  John^)  92 


OTHER  FAMILY  NAMES 
Aiken,  John  A 94 

Brady,    Samuel 93 

Buchanan,   James 91 

Buchanan,    Smith 91 

Cassil,  Alexander 90 

Cassil,  Austin  A 87 

Cannon,   James 84 

Christie,   John 86 

Cotton,  Dr.  A.  M 93 

Cotton,   Christian  M 93 

Cotton,   James 93 

Cotton,   L.   S 93 

Cotton,  Robert  H 93 

Critchlield,  C.  E 90 

Critchfield,    Elmer 89 

Critchfield,   Fremont  J 89 

Critchfield,  George 90 

Critchfield,  John  M 89 

Critchfield,    Meshach 89 

Critchfield,  Roland 90 

Critchfield,  Wilson 90 

Cunningham,     Cyrus 95 

Drake,  Abram 8s 

Drake,  Alexander 85 

Drake,  George 84 

Dawson,    George 87 

Dawson,    Joseph 86 

Dodds,    William 86 

Ellis,   Lyman 91 


PAGE 

Gladden,  James 95 

Gladden,  John  Riddell 95 

Gladden,    Madison 95 

Gladden,  William 95 

Graham,   Alexander 91 

Graham,   James 91 

Graham,  James   Burleigh 91 

Graham,   John 91 

Kithcart,  Joseph  B 88 

Lane,  Thomas 86 

Langf ord.  Royal  D 89 

McClay,    David 86 

McDowell,  Mrs.  Nancy  J 93 

McGugin,  David 91 

McKeever,   William 86 

McKirahan,  A.  Roy 94 

McKirahan,    Joseph 94 

Magers,   Hiram 90 

Osborne,   Jacob 86 

Peeler,    Elias 90 

Rea,  Dr.  Alexander  M 93 

Rea,  Joseph  V 93 

Rea,  William 93 

Russell,    James 95 

Smith,  John 84 

Vincent,  Alexander,  Sr 90 

Vincent,  Alexander,  Jr 90 

Vincent,    Jay 90 

Van  Vranken,  Mrs 93 

Wells,    Campbell 88 

Williams,  Bazil 86 

Wilson,  Major  S.  L 88 

ALBANY  Mcelroys 99 

Alexander,^  (Thomas^)  loi 

Alexander,*  (Thomas,*  Alexander^) los 

Andrew,*  (David,^  David^) m 

Andrew,*  (Francis,*  David^) 112 

Barney,*  (David^)  1 1 1 

Charles  A.,*  (James  K.*) 103 


I82 


Index  —  Albany    M  c Elroys 


PAGE 

Crocket,*  (Frances^) 112,  155 

David^  99 

David,^  (Davidi)  99 

David,*  (Francis^)  112 

Francis,^  (David^)  112 

Francis,*  (Francis^)  112 

Frank,^  (Crocket*)  114 

Hiram,'  (David^)  1 1 1 

Irving,^  (Samuel,*  Thomas^) 107 

Jacob,*  (Francis*)  107 

Jacob,*  (Francis*)  112 

James,2  (David^)  99 

James,*  (SamueP)  100 

James,*  ( James,^  David^) 1 00 

James  K.,^  (John,"  Thomas^) 103 

James,*  (Alexander ,2  Thomas^) 105 

James,*  (David^)  iii 

James,*  (James  K.*) 103 

James,*   (James,*  Alexander^) 105 

James,^  (John,*  John,*  John,^  John^)  ...  108 

John,*  (John,*  John,^  Johni) 108 

John,*    (James   K.*) 103 

John,*    (ivavid")    1 1 1 

John,^  (John,*  John,*  John,^  John^)  ....  108 

John  E.,'   (William,^  John*) no 

Milo  Gilbert,^   (John,*  James  K.*) 107 

Richard,^  (John*)    108 

Robert,*   (James,^   David') 102 

Robert,*  (Robert*)    102 

Robert,*    (Francis*)    112 

Robert,"    (Irving^)    108 

Samuel,^    (David^)    100 

Samuel,*  (Thomas*)    105 

Samuel  Haring,^  (Samuel*) 106 

Samuel,^  (John,*  John,*  John,^  John^) .  108 

Thomas,*  (Samuel^)    100 

'Thomas,*   (Alexander^)    104 

Thomas,*  (James  K.*) 103 

Thomas    Irvin,*    (Thomas') 105 

Wesley,*  (Francis*)    112 

William,*  (Alexander,^  Thomas^) 104 

William,*  (James  K.*)    103 

William,^  (John,*  John,*  John,^  John')  .  109 


PAGE 

William  H.,*   (William^) 109,  159 

Vv  illiam,"   (John  E.,"  William^) no 

OTHER  FAMILY  NAMES 

Allen,  Dr.   Stuart 103 

Beck,  Mrs.   Flora 114 

Banker,    Albert 106 

Beatty,    Andrew 109 

Craig,  ,  M.   D 102 

Campbell,   100 

Chapin,  Ogden  N 102 

Dorr,  John,   Attorney 103 

Frazier,     Alexander 107 

Gates,  Rev.   Cornelius 100 

Gangweyer,   W.   A.,  Attorney 106 

Goodrich,    Abram 104 

Goodrich,   Alexander  M 104 

Hyde,    John 102 

Hill,  George  Rowland 107 

Jackson,    John 100 

Jackson,   Charles  H no 

Kennedy,  Rev.  G.  N 114 

Ligget,    A.    M 1 09 

Lamon,   Mrs.    Mary 113 

McBurney,   Joseph 102 

Mcllvaine,    Rev.    Glendenning 102 

McNaughton,   Peter 102 

Martin,  Dr.  David 102 

North,    Henry in 

Piatt,  Chauncey  A 105 

Piatt,    James 105 

Piatt,  John   B 105 

Piatt,   William   A 105 

Piatt,  William  L 105 

Polly,  Daniel 105 

Recor,  Mrs.   Etta 114 

Salisbury,  Stephen 104 


Index  —  Miscellane  ous    M  c  Elroys 


183 


Scott,  James  P 105 

Shaw,   Samuel  M 104 

Stevenson,  James  Thomas 103 

Stevenson,    Samuel 103 

Stevenson,    William 103 


Taylor,    Rev.   103 

Tate,    William 109 

Van  Vorhees,  George  S 105 

Webster,   Rev.    Chauncey 102 

LANCASTER  COUNTY  McELROYS  115 

DELAWARE    STATE    McELROYS..  121 

BRADDOCK   McELROYS 122 

LIGONIER    McELROYS 123 

DESCENDANTS     OF     ADAM     MC- 
ELROY   127 

MEADEVILLE   McELROYS 131 

VIRGINIA   McELROYS 133 


MONROEVILLE    McELROYS 135 

BEAVER      COUNTY       (PA.)       Mc- 
ELROYS     137 

ROBERT     McELROY,     OF    PHILA- 
DELPHIA     137 

PITTSBURGH    McELROYS 141 

Hon.     JOHN     SCOTT,     OF    PHILA- 
DELPHIA     141 

SLIGO    McELROYS 143 

DELAWARE   (OHIO)   McELROYS..    147 

JOHN    McELROY,    OF    WASHING- 
TON CITY 148 

NORTH    CAROLINA    McELROYS..    151 

GEORGE      McELROY,      A      PATRI- 
ARCH     151 

NEW    BRUNSWICK   McELROYS. ...  153 


